From left to right: Eriquinho, Mrs. Sônia, and Mr. Érico. The Braga family of Haras Prata, who will celebrate their 50th anniversary of the Haras Prata Sale in Brazil.

courtesy of the Braga Family

By Turfeeunapolis

SOROCABA, BRAZIL–APRIL 23, 2026–This Saturday, April 25, Érico Braga will host one of the most important auctions in South America, named the Haras Prata 50th Anniversary Special Edition, celebrating the golden jubilee of the most successful breeding operation of all time in Brazil, in a journey marked by results, consistency, and prominence on the racetrack.

CLICK HERE to view the 2026 Haras Prata Sale Catalog

The genetic excellence of Haras Prata was initially established through the stallion Signed To Fly, imported to Brazil in the early 1990s after major stakes victories in the United States.

By The Signature out of Flying Smoothly (by Easy Jet), the Oklahoma-born sire dominated the Brazilian statistics for several years and still holds the record as the leading sire of winning offspring in the history of the Jockey Club de Sorocaba, with more than 400 races won. He later continued to shine as a broodmare sire, with his pedigree influence remaining strong to this day.

The genetic excellence of Haras Prata was initially established through the stallion Signed To Fly. © courtesy of the Braga Family

In search of a successor to Signed To Fly, Haras Prata innovated once again in 2008 by importing Granite Lake (First Down Dash x Clever Miss, by Kaskaskia), another stakes-winning runner in the United States, highlighted by his victory in the 2003 West Texas Derby at Sunland Park.

Once again, the decision proved to be precise, as the new sire made an immediate impact in Brazil, where he is currently the all-time leading sire by earnings, surpassing R$11 million in progeny earnings. He is also the leading producer of champions in the major races not only in Brazil, but throughout South America.

Alongside the investment in importing these great stallions, in addition to other important names such as Fantastic Corona Jr, among others, Érico Braga also brought several elite broodmares with renowned genetic strength to his breeding farm, which were vital to the success of his program.

Added to national investments, purchasing or producing horses that strengthened his roster, many consider him the number one breeder in Latin America.

The Braga family alongside Red Hawk Cartel. © courtesy of the Braga Family

Mares such as White Or Wrong (Mr Eye Opener x Shes Jess Special, by Mr Jess Perry), winner of the 2007 All American Juvenile and later one of the greatest producers of champions in Brazil, as well as Swingin Jessie, Featuringmissjess, Jess Because, Blues Girl Won, Jump To It, Cash For Kas (winner of the 2004 Champion of Champions), One More Habit (winner of the Los Alamitos Winter Derby and Denim N Diamonds Handicap in 2005), and many other already established broodmares, both imported and domestic.

In an investment program that continues to expand, more recently came the impactful imports of Separate Fire, a Grade 1-winning mare (Ed Burke Million and Kindergarten Futurity) with five wins and US$631,250 in earnings, along with Ms First Prize Rose, a daughter of Corona Cartel out of First Carolina (by Mr Jess Perry), winner of the 2013 Rainbow Futurity and 2014 Breeders Derby, with US$550,105 in earnings.

Ms First Prize Rose will have her first daughter offered at this year’s sale, a filly named Send Me Red Roses (by Red Hawk Cartel).

After the success of Signed To Fly and later Granite Lake, stallions that marked eras and continue expanding their legacies, Érico Braga selected Red Hawk Cartel as heir to that throne. The son of Favorite Cartel and Red Hawk Chick (by Hawkinson) was a stakes winner in the United States, capturing the 2018 California Breeders Freshman Stakes at Los Alamitos.

Coronita In Red, champion of the 2026 GP Torneio Início, sold at the Haras Prata Auction last year. © @turfeeunapolis

As a sire, his Red Hawk Cartel crop is already racing successfully in 2026, earning titles at different racetracks, highlighted by Coronita In Red, winner of the GP Torneio Início, the first race for the new generation at Jockey Club de Sorocaba.

The 2025 Haras Prata Auction shattered all national records and reached the impressive average of R$313,000 per lot, totaling R$17.3 million in gross sales.

WATCH THE VIDEO OF LAST YEAR'S SALE

This year, in its 50th Anniversary Special Edition, expectations are equally high for strong sales due to the elite genetic quality offered through the highest level of selective standards.

There will be 50 colts and fillies from the 2024 foal crop, featuring offspring by Red Hawk Cartel, Fantastic Corona Jr, Granite Lake, Apollitical Jess, Desirio, Corona For Me, Gold Medal Jess, Jess Bikini JNN, No Secrets Here, and One Famous Eagle.

CLICK HERE to view the 2026 Haras Prata Sale Catalog

"Our philosophy remains the same from the beginning: to unite tradition and innovation, combining the best bloodlines with a breeding program guided by excellence. More than numbers and titles, Haras Prata represents a story built by friends, partners, and the passion that unites us with the Quarter Horse. We continue looking to the future with the same enthusiasm as when everything began, certain that the next chapters will continue to be written with genetics, dedication, and great results. Thank you very much to everyone who is part of this journey," said Érico Braga.

Fantastic Feature, one of the greatest Brazilian horses of all time. © @turfeeunapolis

A milestone of the event will be the official launch of Fantastic Feature as a stallion. A horse personally described by Érico Braga as the best he has ever bred. By Fantastic Corona Jr out of Featuringmissjess (by Mr Jess Perry), he won 17 races, including two records broken at Jockey Club de Sorocaba, at 330 yards (16.046 seconds) and 400 yards (19.171 seconds), both marks still standing.

He won the Brazilian Champion of Champions twice (2023 and 2024), was also a two-time winner of the Rei da Velocidade, and added several other major victories in Sorocaba that established him as a historic runner.

The Haras Prata 50th Anniversary Special Edition Auction will be held this Saturday at Jockey Club de Sorocaba, which will also host the trials for the GP América Futurity. The auction features two guest breeders offering consignments: Haras Maria Clara and Haras Sampaio.

StallioneSearch will be on-site covering the overall sale results and all highlights from the event.

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