Rose Quartz

Family 14c

1997 b. f. Lammtarra - Graphite (Mr Prospector)

The Aga Khan IV’s acquisition of the stock belonging to Jean-Luc Lagardère in 2005 brought together two of the most powerful French operations of that era and it duly yielded immediate rewards, among them Rose Quartz.

The bulk of Lagardère’s operation revolved around his Poule d’Essai des Poulains winner Linamix. However, Rose Quartz was from the sole European crop of Lammtarra and bred by Sheikh Mohammed out of a granddaughter of Canadian champion Square Angel.

“Jean-Luc and I used to discuss breeding and I understood that his techniques were totally different to ours… he worked in a highly individualistic and a very creative way,” said the Aga Khan IV in A Racing and Breeding Tradition: The Horses of the Aga Khan. “There is no real model. You cannot necessarily say that one method is more effective than another, but some of them work and he made his work in a wonderful way.”

Rose Quartz showed a modicum of ability for John Oxx, winning a one mile five furlong Wexford maiden by 10 lengths, and was sold at the end of her three-year-old season for 42,000gns to Eric Puerari, acting on behalf of Lagardère.

She swiftly proved a different proposition at stud. Not long following the Aga Khan’s acquisition, her Linamix daughter Rosawa won the Listed Prix de la Calonne at Deauville; four years later, her first foal Rosanara carried the Aga Khan’s colours to victory in the Prix Marcel Boussac.

Rose Quartz produced a total of four Stakes performers, including the tough Group 2 winner Rajsaman, who later sired Classic winner Brametot at stud, as well as Listed scorer Radanpour.