La Valkiria and its annual auction, backed by Mask and his generosity

The nursery owned by Alfredo Farioli will offer the bulk of its current crop this Saturday, including 15 offspring by the standout sire

Outside the circuit of the most traditional breeding operations, Haras La Valkiria has stood out as one of the fastest-rising nurseries in recent times. Led by Alfredo Farioli alongside the unwavering support of his family, the breeding project quickly delivered major results on the track, propelled largely by the discovery of one of the most generous stallions on the market today: Mask.

A stakes winner in the United States by Tapit, he wasted little time proving his exceptional potency at stud from the same freshman crop that featured Dabster (Curlin), among others. His record already boasts stakes winners such as Garufa Mask, La Tasmania, Payucano, Amonet, Vieja Amiga Mask, La Mykonos, and Viejos Tiempos Mask, as well as stakes performers like Gurisa Mask, Reina Mirta, and El Brigadier.

A red-letter date awaits Farioli and the entire Haras La Valkiria team this Saturday, as they welcome clients and friends to their facilities in Esperanza, Santa Fe, for their Annual Yearling Auction. The catalog features 15 offspring by Mask, alongside yearlings by Treasure Beach (Galileo), Imperador (Treasure Beach), Don Empeño (Exchange Rate), and Village King (Campanologist).

The nursery has placed a premium on pedigree quality from the start, offering buyers a compelling mix of elite domestic and international bloodlines throughout the catalog.

Among the featured lots set to command intense bidding is El Lanín, an impressive colt foaled July 4, 2024, by Mask out of the prolific producer Majestic Life (Majestic Warrior). He is a full brother to stakes winner Vieja Amiga Mask and a half-brother to Amigazo Sky (Falling Sky), whose victories include the Clásico Polla de Potrillos (G2), Clásico Pedro Goenaga (G2), and Clásico Isidoro Aramburu (G2), in addition to a heartbreaking second-place effort behind El Kodigo (Equal Stripes) in the Gran Premio Polla de Potrillos (G1).

Another highly anticipated offering is Donamancio (Mask), a full brother to La Tasmania, winner of the Clásico Francia (L) who is currently preparing for her North American debut under the care of trainer Mike Maker.

Backfield by proven statistics, the sire power of Mask, and a venture built on sheer passion, La Valkiria offers buyers substantial opportunities for success at this year's sale.