Blue hen mare Kisma or more commonly known as the ‘Queen of Kitchwin’ foaled her final foal on Sunday night, a gorgeous colt by 4 time champion sire Snitzel (pictured above). “Kisma has been amazing to us all here at Kitchwin and given us all so much.” – Mick Malone
Upon speaking with Kisma’s owner Geoff Grimish he expressed his gratitude to the team at Kitchwin Hills but especially to the mare herself and agreed with Mick that this will be her last foal. “So often older mares are lost foaling, especially at the grand age of 23. Kisma means so much to us here at Kitchwin, we nearly didn’t breed her last season but she just looks so good for her age, we certainly wouldn’t push her for another, although she foaled so well and has come through it like a Maiden.” – Mick Malone. The beloved mare will live out her retirement on the hills of Kitchwin.
“So often older mares are lost foaling, especially at the grand age of 23. Kisma means so much to us here at Kitchwin, we nearly didn’t breed her last season but she just looks so good for her age, we certainly wouldn’t push her for another, although she foaled so well and has come through it like a Maiden.”
Above: Kisma and her 2020 Snitzel colt, now named Light Infantry.
After an extraordinary career at stud, having 12 healthy foals, 9 to race – all winners, the daughter of Snippets produced 3 stakeshorses for 19 stakeswins and progeny earnings of $4,557,885. Kisma’s breeding record includes Group 1 Myer Classic winner RED TRACER (Dane Shadow), Group 1 Galaxy winner SHELLSCRAPE (Dane Shadow), and Group 1 placed and young stallion COUNTERATTACK (Redoute’s Choice).
An incredible career at stud and a winner herself, Kisma has taken her owners Geoff and Mary Grimmish on the ride of their lives along with all the staff that have worked with her over the years.
A breeders’ dream by Snippets, an exceptional producer of type and she had colt after colt after colt! Snippets – a Broodmare sire that is responsible for horses like SNITZEL, OVERREACH, MERCHANT NAVY, CHAMPAGNE CUDDLES, CRYSTAL LILY, BOOM TIME etc, all the result of Snippets Broodmares with sons or grandsons of Danehill. Notably, Kisma’s three best performers all from Danehill line stallions.
Kisma’s breeding record includes Group 1 Myer Classic winner RED TRACER (Dane Shadow), Group 1 Galaxy winner SHELLSCRAPE (Dane Shadow), and Group 1 placed and young stallion COUNTERATTACK (Redoute’s Choice).
Above: Counterattack (Redoute’s Choice) winning the Group 3 Fred Best.
Above: Shellscrape (Dane Shadow) winning the Group 1 Galaxy
Everyone wants a colt
Kisma’s career at stud she produced 11 colts and only 1 filly. Red Tracer the only filly went on to win a Group 1 Myer Classic and currently resides at Kitchwin Hills along side her dam, she’s expecting a foal by Zoustar this year. Red Tracer ‘s first foal by Sebring a winner and Group 3 placed called Overlord who is currently in work with Chris Waller, a stable mate to another daughter of Red Tracer in Fearnought, a 3 time winning filly by I Am Invincible who looks to be hitting her straps as of late following her win at Eagle Farm in July.
Though, at this point in Kisma’s career, the desire for a filly outweighed that of a colt, to continue the ‘Kisma’ legacy through a female line, but as they say, mother nature had other plans.
Above: Red Tracer (Dane Shadow) earned over $2.3 million on track.
Pedigree update to come?
Kisma’s days in the breeding barn might be over but she still has 3 exciting foals to come through. A gelding by Pariah named Hot Extraction, a colt by Snitzel named Light Infantry – both with Mark Newnham and of course her Snitzel colt foal born just this week.
An incredible end to a remarkable career at stud! Happy retirement, Kisma!
Above: Red Tracer (Dane Shadow) with her first foal Overlord (Sebring)
Above: Kisma with her 2019 Pariah (Redoute’s Choice) colt, now called Hot Extraction.