THE recent 10-runner Prix de Rodilhan over six furlongs at Nimes may not rank as one of the best races in France, but it has a particular importance to Mariann Klay and Des Leadon of Swordlestown Little Stud near Punchestown.

It is the race that marked the successful racecourse debut of their homebred Sonata Ultima (translates as the last sonata), a two-year-old daughter of Acclamation (Royal Applause) and the Green Desert (Danzig) mare Sogno Verde. The filly is leased to Anton Krauliger and is trained by Charley Rossi. She is the eighth winning offspring of her dam, and she has a significant own-brother.

That is Lilbourne Lad (Acclamation), and he is a Group 2 winning two-year-old who finished in the frame on all of his eight starts, including running second in both the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes and the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes. He stood at Rathbarry Stud and his stakes winning offspring were headed by the Hong Kong Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Dinozzo. Interestingly, that winner of some $1.5 million was bred by Klay and Leadon.

Sogno Verde raced for her breeder Lady Clague and was trained by John Oxx. She won an 11-furlong maiden at Tipperary before being despatched to the December Sale in Newmarket where Des Leadon spent 60,000gns to acquire her. She had a top-class pedigree and her half-brother Pugin (Darshaan) was a stakes winner and runner-up in the Group 1 Irish St Leger. Their half-sister Chartres (Danehill) was also a stakes winner and she later produced a Group 2 winner in Certerach (Halling).

Rich dividends

That investment in Sogno Verde has reaped rich dividends. In addition to producing eight winners, the mare has been represented by stars of the sale ring too, her offspring as foals or short yearlings realising prices such as €475,000 for Ryoken (Galileo), €360,000 for Notte Illuminata (Acclamation), €280,000 for Robertstown (Raven’s Path), and €200,000 for Bluebell (Mastercraftsman).

Hopefully for all concerned Sonata Ultima will go on now to gain some valuable blacktype, which is something her pedigree would indicate that she is capable of doing.

Her full-brother Lilbourne Lad was one of the best runners for Acclamation, and that Rathbarry sire’s top performers also include the stallions Dark Angel, Mehmas, Equiano, Expert Eye, Harbour Watch and Aclaim.

As a broodmare sire, Acclamation is enjoying a fine year with his daughters responsible for Broome, Point Lonsdale and Rohaan, while previously they produced such as Eqtidaar, True Valour and Massaat.