Eight Carat

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Eight Carat (bl. 1975) Pieces of Eight - Klairessa, by Klairon) is without doubt the best broodmare to have ever stood in Australasia. She is the dam of five individual Group One winners, including the champions Octagonal, Mouawad, Kaapstad, Diamond Lover and (Our) Marquise.

Her influence now extends to several generations and includes her daughters:

Cotehele House ((br. or bl. 1980) by. My Swanee - Eight Carat: dam of Danewin (b. 1991) winner of 5 Group 1 races and Champion 3YO of his year and Commands the winner of a Group 3 race.

Both Danewin and Commands are now at stud in Australia's Hunter Valley. Danewin is currently standing at Emirates Park Stud for AUD$22,000, whilst Commands is standing at Woodlands Park Stud for AUD$66,000. Both have been successful siring Group 1 winners, including (Danewin): Elegant Fashion, Vitesse Dane, County Tyrone, Excites and Toulouse Lautrec; and (Commands): Undue and Paratroopers. Cotehele House is the grand dam of Emerald Dream (Group 1 winner); Special Bond (Listed winner) and Taimana (Group 2 winner). She is also the great grand dam of Impaler (2x Group 2 winner)and Listen Here (Listed winner).

Our Diamond Lover ((br. 1982) by. Sticks And Stones - Eight Carat: dam of Tristalove winner of 2 Group 1 races and Champion Race filly; Don Eduardo winner of the Group 1 AJC Derby also holds the record as the most expensive yearling to be sold in the southern hemisphere a reported NZD$3.6 million; Peruzzi multiple Group winner and Antwerp multiple Listed winner.

Our Diamond Lover is the grand dam of Viscount (Multiple Group 1 winner and Champion 2YO); Helsinborg (Listed winner); Viking Ruler (Group 1 winner); Kempinsky (Group 2 winner); and Diamond Like (Listed winner). She is also the great grand dam of Lucida (Listed winner). Lastly, she is the great-grand dam of De Beers (Group 1 winner).

La Brillante ((b. 1986)) by. Sir Tristram - Eight Carat: dam of Philidor, Listed winner.

Nine Carat ((b. 1989) by. Sir Tristram - Eight Carat: dam of Court of Jewels, Listed winner.

Our Marquise ((b. 1991)) by. Gold And Ivory - Eight Carat: dam of Shower of Roses, Group 1 winner.

Eight Carat's sons: Octagonal, Kaapstad, Colombia and Mouawad have all stood at stud. Octagonal is currently standing at Woodlands Stud, Fee on Application and will be best remembered as the sire of the two brothers: Niello and world champion miler of 2004, Lonhro (now also at stud at Woodlands). Kaapstad stood at Windsor Park in New Zealand and was a leading sire and broodmare sire until his death on 9th May 2007. At stud Kaapstad sired 40 individual stakes winners. Colombia is currently standing in New Zealand at Newmarket Lodge for a fee of NZD$3,000. Mouawad stood one season in Australia at Glenlogan Park Stud in QLD, however due to fertility problems, he was re-sold again at public auction for AUD$525,000 to the former Domeland Syndicate and shipped to China. Unfortunately his whereabouts are unknown due to the collapse of the racing industry over there in late 2005. It is believed he may have been euthanased.

Eight Carat won the New Zealand Broodmare of the Year a record-equalling three times from 1995 to 1997 due to the deeds of Octagonal and Mouawad. She was also ranked the world's best broodmare in 1996.

Unfortunately the great mare died in 2000, aged 25 at Sir Patrick Hogan's, Cambridge Stud. She is buried alongside Sir Tristram.