McNairs Land More Than Ready Mare for Congaree

Congaree (Arazi–Mari’s Sheba, by Mari’s Book), who has been relocated to Lane’s End Texas for the 2016 breeding season, is already being supported by some familiar faces, namely Robert and Janice McNair, who raced the stallion to no fewer than five Grade I victories, including back-to-back renewals of the GI Cigar Mile H. and placings in the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S.

Thursday afternoon, during the 11th and penultimate session of the Keeneland November Sale in Lexington, the couple went to $40,000 to acquire the 3-year-old filly Zealous Madame (More Than Ready) with the express intent of breeding her to Congaree early next season. Acting on behalf of the Houston-based McNairs–the former owner/operators of Stonerside Stable–agent Marette Farrell signed the on the dark bay, consigned by Damian and Braxton Lynch’s Royal Oak Farm. Hip 4090, originally a $300,000 purchase at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga in 2013, is a daughter of the multiple stakes-placed Haka Girl (War Chant) and is not only a half-sister to $200,000-plus earner Keening (Curlin), but also to Tutu Nguru (Blame). That 2-year-old filly has shown promise this year in England, with a pair of victories and close fourth-placings in the G3 Sirenia S. and in the G3 Oh So Sharp S.

“Mr. & Mrs. McNair think the world of Congaree and they want to support Congaree with a handful of mares,” explained John Adger, longtime bloodstock adviser to the couple. “We really like the mare, I think there could be quite a bit of upside, and the 2-year-old sister is doing well in England.

He continued, “She matches up well physically with Congaree and on pedigree, we thought it would be interesting to double up on Blushing Groom. We might try to pick up a few more yet at the sale.”

Adger also indicated that the McNairs had acquired a few mares privately, including one by former Lane’s End Texas stallion Valid Expectations. That recently deceased sire is the broodmare sire of Congaree’s best runner, Don’t Tell Sophia, who was sold for $1.2 million on day one of the November sale.

The arrival of Congaree in the Lone Star state is a homecoming of sorts for the McNairs.

“They have always been very close to Congaree,” Adger explained. “He was the best horse they had and meant quite a bit to them. We were getting just a few mares in NY and we thought we could do a better job down here in Texas. Lane’s End has always been good to us, we used to raise 10 to 12 Texas-breds on their farm and it seemed like a good fit.”

In addition to Don’t Tell Sophia, Congaree is also the sire of Grade I winners Jeranimo and Killer Graces, Irish highweight Maoineach and other U.S. graded stakes scorers Mythical Power and Shrinking Violet. He will stand for $5,000 at Lane’s End Texas in 2016.