Astra (horse)

Astra (foaled January 25, 1996, in Kentucky) was an American Thoroughbred racemare who won four Grade I races on turf.

Astra
Sire	Theatrical
Grandsire	Nureyev
Dam	Savannah Slew
Damsire	Seattle Slew
Sex	Mare
Foaled	1996
Country	United States
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Allen E. Paulson
Owner	Allen E. Paulson
Trainer	1) Simon Bray 2) Laura de Seroux
Record	16: 11-1-2
Earnings	US$1,378,424
Major wins
Matiara Stakes (1999) Gamely Breeders' Cup Handicap (2000, 2002) Jenny Wiley Stakes (2000) Beverly Hills Handicap (2001, 2002) Santa Barbara Handicap (2001, 2002)

Background

She was bred and raced by Allen Paulson who also owned and raced her dam and her sire. Her dam was Savannah Slew, a daughter of the 1977 U.S. Triple Crown champion Seattle Slew, and her sire was Theatrical, winner of the 1987 Breeders' Cup Turf.

Racing career

Following the death of Allen Paulson on July 19, 2000, Astra raced for the Allen E. Paulson Living Trust. In mid-2001, trainer Simon Bray retired and her race conditioning was then turned over to Laura de Seroux who went on to match the two Grade I and the single Grade II wins that Bray had had with Astra. In winning her second edition of the Beverly Hills Handicap in 2002 for de Seroux, Astra set a new stakes record of 1:58.56 - for a mile and a quarter on turf.

Broodmare

Astra was boarded at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Kentucky. She produced three foals, all of which raced but with only limited success, before her untimely death on June 12, 2007, at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute near Lexington as a result of complications from colic.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Astra

Sire Theatrical	Nureyev	Northern Dancer	Nearctic
			Natalma
		Special	Forli
			Thong
	Tree of Knowledge	Sassafras	Sheshoon
			Ruta
		Sensibility	Hail To Reason
			Pange
Dam Savannah Slew	Seattle Slew	Bold Reasoning	Boldnesian
			Reason To Earn
		My Charmer	Poker
			Fair Charmer
	Pilferer	No Robbery	Swaps
			Bimlette
		Will Hail	Hail To Reason
			Sabana