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Precocious miler speed
Bred and raced by the Niarchos Family, Karakontie was campaigned primarily in France, where he won a pair of group races at 2 including the seven-furlong Grand Criterium (G1). Karakontie trained on at 3 to capture the classic French Two Thousand Guineas (G1) before traveling to Santa Anita Park, where he defeated older horses in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) and recorded a 110 Beyer Speed Figure.
News
Sire of graded stakes winners on both turf and dirt, and stakes performers in seven countries.
Named Turf Value Sire from Paulick/Joe Nevills for second straight year in 2024: “I see a lot of blue sky with KARAKONTIE. He’s become a proven sire of turf winners – and quality winners, at that – and turf racing’s slice of the North American pie is only getting bigger. Whether you’re breeding or buying, Karakontie looks like a solid way into that sphere on a budget.”
2024 runners led by Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) and 2024 Hilltop S. winner, Lake Placid (G2) second, and Belmont Oaks (G1) third She Feels Pretty, Louisville Stakes (G3) winner and Chorleywood Overnight S. second Sugoi, Bertrando S. winner and California Dreamin S. and California Flag H. third None Above the Law, Clasico Ano Nuevo winner Xtina, Rebel S. (G2) second Common Defense, Tyson Gilpin S. second Chambeau, Remington Park Oaks third Just Be Quiet, and California Cup Oaks third Sushi Sticks.
Other Runners include 4 1/2 length Del Mar Oaks (G1) winner, Appalachian (G2) winner, Herecomesthebride (G3) winner, and Coronation Stakes (G1) and Just A Game (G1) second Spendarella; Yellow Ribbon (G2), Mrs. Revere (G2), Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf S. (G3), Hawkesbury Crown (Aus-G3), two-time Dr. James Penny Memorial (G3) winner, and five-time Grade 1-placed Princess Grace displaying graded stakes success on both dirt and turf; Del Mar Derby (G2), Real Good News S., Alcatraz S. winner, and Silky Sullivan S. winner None Above The Law, winning stakes races on three different surfaces; Sole Volante, winner of the Sam F. Davis (G3) on dirt and Pulpit Stakes at turf, 2nd in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2); Horris Hill S. (G3) winner Kenzai Warrior; two-time stakes winner & ‘TDN Rising Star’ Karak; Henry Mercer Memorial S. winner, West Virginia Vincent Moscarelli Memorial Breeders’ Classic S. second, and West Virginia Futurity runner-up King Kontie; Portofino S. winner Tournesol, also third in the Mrs. Presidentress S.; and Spanish Loveaffair, Sharp Susan S. and Pebble S. winner and runner-up in the Jessamine (G2), and 2023 stakes placed 2YO Arashi.
Named turf Value Sire from Paulick/Joe Nevills in 2023: “KARAKONTIE is a young sire with a ton of momentum, and buyers are starting to get wise that he can do plenty for them… breeders getting in promptly on KARAKONTIE could find themselves in the right place at the right time.”
Named a TDN “Gold” Value sire for 2022. “He’s a conduit of pure class, every way you cut it, and he has shown that he will take such chances as he’s given” – Chris McGrath
Bill Oppenheim’s Value Sire for 2019: “Karakontie could be poised to succeed the likes of Kitten’s Joy and English Channel in American turf racing … and will have nearly maximum opportunity to make a good impression in almost every racing context (dirt, grass, America, Europe, etc.).”
Won the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) with an electrifying stretch run in 1:32.88, recording a 110 Beyer—the year’s top figure on turf
Group 1 winner at 2; French classic and Breeders’ Cup winner at 3; earned nearly $2 million
Won three of four starts at 2, including the prestigious Grand Criterium (G1) and Prix La Rochette (G3); won the French Two Thousand Guineas (G1) over a top-class field at 3
From the immediate family of Kingmambo, one of the leading sires of the past 20 years; third dam is the incomparable Miesque, a two-time winner of the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1)
Sire Bernstein is also sire of six-time Grade/Group 1 winner and Eclipse Award champion Tepin
Sales Results:
Multiple graded stakes winning daughter Princess Grace was sold for $1.7 million at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton November Sale and Spanish Loveaffair sold for $600,000 at the 2022 Keeneland November Sale.
Stakes winning daughter Spanish Loveaffair sold for $775,000 at the 2021 Keeneland November sale and stakes winning daughter Karak sold for $280,000 at the same sale.
2021 yearlings sold for up to $310,000; 2020 yearlings sold up to $500,000 (session topper); First-crop 2-year-olds sold for $460,000, $365,000, etc.; first-crop yearlings sold up to $220,000; first-crop weanlings sold up to $250,000
Lifetime:
15% stakes horses, 15 stakes winners, eight graded stakes winners, over $14 million in progeny earnings.
Race Results
| Age | Starts | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Earned |
| 2 | 4 | 3 (2) | 1 (1) | 0 | $354,130 |
| 3 | 5 | 2 (2) | 1 (1) | 0 | $1,554,652 |
| 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 (1) | $58,317 |
| Totals | 12 | 5 (4) | 2 (2) | 1 (1) | $1,967,099 |
Grand Criterium (G1), Longchamp, 7 furlongs, 1:22.97, defeating Noozhoh Canarias, Charm Spirit, etc.
Prix La Rochette (G3), Longchamp, 7 furlongs, 1:22.45, defeating Decathlete, Stillman, etc.
A maiden race, Compiègne, 7 furlongs, defeating Ectot, Itoobeboss, etc.
Prix Francois Boutin, Deauville, 7 furlongs, by a nose, to Bunker, defeating Coulsty, Stormy Paradise, Apache Spirit.
Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), Santa Anita, 1 mile, 1:32.88, defeating Anodin, Trade Storm, Summer Front, Obviously, Mustajeeb, Tom’s Tribute, Toronado, Seek Again, Kaigun, Grand Arch, Veda, Tourist, Sayaad.
French Two Thousand Guineas (G1), Longchamp, 1 mile, defeating Prestige Vendome, Pornichet, Giovanni Boldini, etc.
Prix de Fontainebleau (G3), Longchamp, 1 mile, to Ectot, defeating Gailway, Prestige Vendome, etc.
Prix du Moulin (G1), Longchamp, 1 mile, to Ervedya, Akatea, defeating Maimara, Wild Chief, etc.
Karakontie
2011 bay
16.1 hands
Bernstein
Sun Is Up
Storm Cat
La Affirmed
Sunday Silence
Moon Is Up
Storm Bird
Terlingua
Affirmed
La Mesa
Halo
Wishing Well
Woodman
Miesque
Pedigree Analysis for Karakontie
By Alan Porter
A Group 1 winner at 2 and hero of the classic French Two Thousand Guineas (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at 3, Karakontie is by a two-time leading sire son of Storm Cat out of the fabulous family of Miesque, also the dam of Kingmambo.
Karakontie should cross well with Mr. Prospector, and we can note that his sire, Bernstein, has a Grade 1 winner out of a mare by Kingmambo, who is from Karakontie’s family and is also sire of Lemon Drop Kid. Storm Cat-line stallions have done well with Carson City in general, and Bernstein has a Grade 2 winner out of a mare by that horse’s son Good and Tough.
Bernstein sired champion Japanese 2-year-old Goshawk Ken from a daughter of Grand Slam (by Gone West, who could also work with Karakontie through Elusive Quality), as well as graded stakes winners out of mares by Gulch (who would be good through Thunder Gulch) and Seeking the Gold. From Mr. Prospector’s Fappiano line, Bernstein sired graded winners out of mares by Cryptoclearance (grandsire of Candy Ride), Quiet American (who could be good through Midnight Lute), and Rubiano.
Bernstein also has stakes winners from mares by Roar (by Forty Niner, also sire of Distorted Humor) and Smart Strike (sire of Curlin and English Channel). Numerous, the broodmare sire of a Bernstein Grade 1 winner, is bred very similarly to Karakontie’s second dam. Mr. Prospector is a son of Raise a Native, and, from another branch of that line, Bernstein sired a stakes winner out of a mare by Wavering Monarch, the sire of Maria’s Mon.
Blushing Groom appears in 14 of Bernstein’s stakes winners, and he might be introduced here through Cherokee Run, Mt. Livermore, Rahy, Runaway Groom, and sons.
Karakontie is out of a Halo-line mare, and breeding a stallion back over his broodmare sire line often works well. As Bernstein has had success with mares by Southern Halo, it would be interesting to try mares by More Than Ready, who is bred on a similar cross to Karakontie’s dam.
Bernstein has a stakes winner out of a Seattle Slew mare and another out of a mare by that horse’s son Doneraile Court. The Seattle Slew line through A.P. Indy son Pulpit came up with Sky Mesa out of a sister to Bernstein; Sky Mesa himself and the similarly bred Jump Start might also be interesting combinations with Karakontie.
Out of mares from the Relaunch line, Bernstein has sired a graded stakes winner from a daughter of Tiznow and stakes winners from daughters of Honour and Glory and Skywalker (sire of Bertrando; grandsire of Officer). He has also done well with Damascus-influenced mares, including through Crusader Sword, Gilded Time, and Private Terms (by Private Account, who worked with Karakontie’s female line).
| Age | Starts | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Earned |
| 2 | 4 | 3 (2) | 1 (1) | 0 | $354,130 |
| 3 | 5 | 2 (2) | 1 (1) | 0 | $1,554,652 |
| 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 (1) | $58,317 |
| Totals | 12 | 5 (4) | 2 (2) | 1 (1) | $1,967,099 |
Grand Criterium (G1), Longchamp, 7 furlongs, 1:22.97, defeating Noozhoh Canarias, Charm Spirit, etc.
Prix La Rochette (G3), Longchamp, 7 furlongs, 1:22.45, defeating Decathlete, Stillman, etc.
A maiden race, Compiègne, 7 furlongs, defeating Ectot, Itoobeboss, etc.
Prix Francois Boutin, Deauville, 7 furlongs, by a nose, to Bunker, defeating Coulsty, Stormy Paradise, Apache Spirit.
Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), Santa Anita, 1 mile, 1:32.88, defeating Anodin, Trade Storm, Summer Front, Obviously, Mustajeeb, Tom’s Tribute, Toronado, Seek Again, Kaigun, Grand Arch, Veda, Tourist, Sayaad.
French Two Thousand Guineas (G1), Longchamp, 1 mile, defeating Prestige Vendome, Pornichet, Giovanni Boldini, etc.
Prix de Fontainebleau (G3), Longchamp, 1 mile, to Ectot, defeating Gailway, Prestige Vendome, etc.
Prix du Moulin (G1), Longchamp, 1 mile, to Ervedya, Akatea, defeating Maimara, Wild Chief, etc.
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