On behalf of the Virtual FormGuide team I was delighted to accept the invitation of Coolmore to attend and view their impressive line up of stallions and property.
This spring 17 stallions are standing at
Coolmore's Hunter Valley property - stallions who's fees range from $5,500
to $132,000.
ANTONIUS PIUS
(Danzig-Catchascatchcan)
$11,000
One of the promising new "boys" at Coolmore this spring is Danzig's Group Two winning son Antonius Pius.
A $1.5 million purchase as a yearling, Antonius Pius is one of over 170 stakes winners by champion sire and sire of sires Danzig.
He made a bright start to his career on the track when he won his maiden at two by six lengths. Later in the season he captured the Group Two Railway Stakes (1200m) at the Curragh.
As a three-year-old Antonius Pius showed his ability with a game second placing in the Breeders' Cup Mile. He was also third in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp.
So well rated was Antonius Pius that he was given 123 on Timeform ratings - ahead of Irish 2000 Guineas winner Bachelor Duke, French 2000 Guineas winner American Post and Prix du Moulin winner Grey Lilas.
Catchascatchcan, the dam of Antonius Pius, was a star on the track. Her best win came in the Group One Yorkshire Oaks.
As well as being a top performer herself, Catchascatchcan is a half sister to the stakes winner Licorne as well as the dam of the Melbourne stakes winners Tall Timbers and Taken.
Antonius Pius stands at the introductory service fee of $11,000 (inc GST).
CATCHER IN THE RYE
(Danehill-Truly a Dream)
$5,500
Catcher in the Rye, along with Mull of Kinytre, is the cheapest stallion of Coolmore's super seventeen this spring.
Coolmore bloodstock adviser James Bester describes the handsome entire as "Danehill's best value son."
"At $5,500 he's a real bargain," Bester said. "He did cost $1.25 million as a yearling."
Like Redoute's Choice, Danehill Dancer, Flying Spur, Danzero and Danewin, Catcher in the Rye is a son of the former champion Coolmore based shuttler Danehill.
Early on during his racetrack career Catcher in the Rye showed his trainer Aidan O'Brien plenty of ability when he earned black type in his maiden season.
"He has loads of pace," O'Brien said at the time. "But I think he'll get 10 furlongs."
As a three-year-old Catcher in the Rye trained on to finish an eye catching second in the Group One French 2000 Guineas. Many believed he was a good thing beaten when he chased home another Danehill colt Clodovil.
Catcher in a Rye, who didn't miss a place at two or three, has a wonderful pedigree. His first four dams were all Group winners. His dam, a daughter of Dashaan, was a winner at Group Two and Three level.
Catcher in the Rye stands this spring at the service fee of $5,500 (inc GST).
CHOISIR
(Danehill Dancer-Great Selection)
$30,250
Coolmore Stud will be hoping Choisir can make as much history as a sire as he did when he raced with great success.
The son of Danehill Dancer, also a member of the powerful Coolmore roster, made history when he became the first Australian horse to win at the famous Royal Ascot carnival when successful in the Group Two King's Stand Stakes.
And he then backed up a few days later to win the Group One Golden Jubilee Stakes - sending English race fans into a spin.
"He is a vindication of the whole shuttle concept," James Bester said. "He's exactly the sort of horse the shuttle was aimed at. A horse tough enough and talented enough to take Australian racing to the world."
Choisir was well regarded in Australia - but no doubt his reputation was clearly enhanced when he made history in England. (Following his Royal Ascot double he chased home Oasis Dream in the July Cup).
"In less than three minutes of racing he did more for Australian thoroughbred abroad than any since Phar Lap," Bester commented.
Prior to heading to the northern hemisphere on his history making venture, Choisir proved himself at Group One level by winning the Lightning Stakes at Flemington.
A strong chestnut entire, Choisir has really strengthened since serving his first book of mares last spring and he really "looked the part" parading among the other seasoned stallions.
Choisir stands this spring, his second season at stud, at the service fee of $30,250 (inc GST).
DANEHILL DANCER
(Danehill-Mira Adonde)
$35,750
Danehill Dancer was already proven himself as a successful shuttle son of the champion sire and sire of sires Danehill. In fact purely on statistics, Danehill Dancer is Danehill's best international sire-son.
His Group One winners in Australia and Europe include Choisir, Private Steer and Where or When.
Prior to making a name for himself as a star sire, Danehill Dancer made a name for himself as an exceptionally talented galloper.
During his first racing season as a two-year-old, Danehill Dancer was a dual Group One winner after victories in the Phoenix Stakes over 1200 metres and National Stakes over 1400 metres.
Formerly based in Victoria, Danehill Dancer is now a popular resident at Coolmore in the Hunter Valley.
There's little wonder he appeals to breeders as a former outstanding Group One winning son of Danehill and a proven Group One sire in both hemispheres.
"It's interesting to note that he (Danehill Dancer) is the leading sire of two-year-olds by winners in Europe this season and second by earnings to Danehill," Bester remarked.
Danehill Dancer stands this spring at the service fee of $35,750 (inc GST).
ENCOSTA DE LAGO
(Fairy King-Shoal Creek)
$132,000
A stallion that needs no introduction is the former Victorian based son of Fairy King, Encosta de Lago.
The highest priced stallion standing at Coolmore, Encosta de Lago is the sire of the champion Alinghi - who only a few hours before we arrived scored a history breaking win in group company in America.
Alinghi had already proven herself a real star by winning the Blue Diamond, Thousand Guineas, Robert Sangster Stakes and Newmarket Handicap - a race in which she spanked Fastnet Rock, another new addition at Coolmore this spring.
As well as Alinghi, Encosta de Lago is the sire of Group One winners Lashed, Titanic Jack and Delago Brom and other group winners Delzao, Vocabulary, Chong Tong, Gold Lottey and Mnemosyne.
Earlier this year an Encosta de Lago colt sold for $620,000 at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast.
Encosta de Lago stands this spring at a service fee of $132,000 (inc GST).
FASTNET ROCK
(Danehill-Piccadilly Circus)
$55,000
One of the exciting new "boys" on the roster at Coolmore this spring is Danehill's multiple Group One winning son Fastnet Rock.
Recently crowned Australia's champion sprinter and three-year-old (male), Fastnet Rock will serve a full book of mares in his freshman year at stud.
The entire, who has only just turned four, was shipped to England where he was to attempt to follow in the footsteps of the outstanding Choisir during the Royal Ascot carnival. But the talented performer was struck down by travel sickness and immediately retired to stud.
Fastnet Rock, incredibly a maiden at two, improved at three to win the Group One Lightning Stakes at Flemington and Group One Oakleigh Plate (under 58kg) at Caulfield.
Amazingly Fastnet Rock is, at this stage, is the only son of Danehill who has won a Group One race over 1000 metres when he edged out Alinghi in the Lightning.
Fastnet Rock is from the Group winning (at two) Royal Academy mare Piccadilly Circus.
Fastnet Rock stands his first season this spring at a service fee of $55,000 (inc GST).
FOOTSTEPSINTHESAND
(Giant's Causeway-Glatisant)
$27,500
Another of the new stallions this season at Coolmore is the superbly bred and exceptionally performed Footstepsinthesand.
A son of the hot young international sire Giant's Causeway, Footstepsinthesand is an unbeaten winner of the Group One English 2000 Guineas - the race regarded by many as Europe's premier Mile Classic.
Not only is Footstepsinthesand by a champion - but is from a wonderful female family. His dam was an unbeaten group winning juvenile. In fact his first three dams were all group winners when they raced.
Footstepsinthesand stands his first season at Coolmore this spring at the service fee of $27,500 (inc GST).
FUSAICHI PEGASUS
(Mr. Prospector-Angel Fever)
$77,000
A former star on the track, Fusaichi Pegasus is following on his family's tradition of becoming a sire with a very bright future.
Already Fusaichi Pegasus is the sire of a number of top class young racehorses including the gun American youngster Roman Ruler and the Group One winning three-year-old Bandini.
In Australia his better progeny include the stakes winners Flying Pegasus and Dr Green and the highly promising Bart Cummings trained filly Mary Marvel.
Fu Peg is an awesome looking individual. That's no surprise for a horse who cost US$4 million as a yearling - the highest price in the world that year. In fact as a foal he was nicknamed "Superman" - a nickname that has stuck with the entire ever since.
On the track he proved his worth for his Japanese owner by winning the Kentucky Derby - leaving nine Group One victors in his wake.
Fusaichi Pegasus stands this spring at the service fee of $77,00 (inc GST).
GALILEO
(Sadler's Wells-Urban Sea)
$35,750
Looking in superb condition with a highly dappled coat was the former champion racehorse and exciting young stallion Galileo.
Galileo was bred to be a star being by the champion sire Sadler's Wells and from the Group One Arc heroine Urban Sea.
And a star on the track he was indeed. He won his maiden by 14 lengths - the Epsom Derby by four lengths and he also won the Irish Derby.
He then trained on to win the time honoured King George beating the five time Group One winning champion Fantatic Light.
All up Galileo raced on eight occasions and registered six wins and a second placing in the Irish Champion Stakes, when beaten a head.
Already this year Galileo youngsters have sold up to a million dollars in Australia and averaged almost $150,000. Around half of his 61 Australian yearlings in 2005 made six figures.
As well as being a winner of the Arc at Longchamp in her own right, Galileo's dam Urban Sea is also the dam of stakes winners Black Sam Bellamy, Urban Ocean, Melikah and All Too Beautiful.
Urban Sea is also a half sister to the leading young international sire King's Best.
Galileo is a son of the incomparable Sadler's Wells. Sadler's is also the sire of champions including Montjeu, Carnegie, High Chaparral, Salsabil, In the Wings, Imagine, Milan and Islington.
Sadler's Wells is also the sire of the established sires including Fort Wood, Barathea, El Prado, Victory Dance and the ill fated Scenic.
The country's leading buyers are preparing to compete for members of Galileo's second crop at the 2006 Yearling Sales.
Galileo stands this spring at the service fee of $35,750 (inc GST).
HAWK WING
(Woodman-La Lorgnette)
$22,000
Triple Group One winner Hawk Wing ranked as one of the best lookers during the day's parade of seventeen stallions.
Now in his second season at stud in Australia, Hawk Wing has "let down" beautifully and his coat sparkled - he was very much the "dappled delight."
Hawk Wing was a classical racehorse. His Group One wins coming in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury and the National Stakes at The Curragh.
His Lockinge Stakes win was by eleven lengths - yes eleven lengths in a race over 1400 metres. And his National Stakes win was a track record at The Curragh.
As well as those feature wins, Hawk Wing was also second in the English Derby, English 2000 Guineas, Irish Champion Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
Hawk Wing is by the international sire success Woodman - the sire of Group One winning stars including Hector Protector, Hansel, Timber Country, Hula Angel, Bosra Sham, Ciro and Way of Light.
While Woodman's Australian career wasn't as successful as many breeders anticipated - that's no reason why his son Hawk Wing won't make it.
Already a few of his sons have done a good job from their opportunities - sires including Bahhare, Woodborough and Dr Johnson.
Hawk King, who's dam won the Canadian Oaks, stands this spring at a service fee of $22,000 (inc GST).
JOHANNESBURG
(Hennessy-Myth)
$27,500
There are fewer better looking stallions around than Johannesburg. As well as being a handsome looker he was a champion racehorse.
From ten starts Johannesburg won seven races - he was second in another.
His wins included four Group One triumphs - the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Middle Park Stakes, Phoenix Stakes and Prix Morny.
Right from the start of his career Johannesburg showed his champion qualities - he was rated the best in the world of his age at two thanks to seven wins from as many starts.
Six of his wins at two came in Europe - all on different tracks - Fairyhouse, The Curragh, Newmarket, Deaville, Leopardstown and Ascot. His other win at two came in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile on dirt at Belmont.
Johannesburg is by Hennessy (Storm Cat), the sire of Half Hennessy and Grand Armee.
As well as having a champion record, Johannesburg has a wonderful pedigree. His dam, a winning daughter of Ogygian, is a half sister to the former outstanding racehorses and now exciting Australasian shuttle sires Minardi and Tale of the Cat.
Johannesburg stands this spring at the service fee of $27,500 (inc GST).
LION HEART
(Tale of the Cat-Satin Sunrise)
$22,000
Lion Heart was aptly named as a young horse. A lion hearted he was indeed.
Right from the start of his career Lion Heart made the headlines. As a two-year-old he topped his breeze up sale at Fasig-Tipton when knocked down for $1.4 million.
At two he was an unbeaten Group One winner - he won the Group One Hollywood Futurity following a record breaking six length win in the Group Three lead up at Hollywood Park.
At three he trained on to win the Group One Haskell Invitational at Monmouth. He then ran a gallant second to Smarty Jones in the Kentucky Derby.
The strongly built chestnut entire is by the top producing Coolmore shuttler Tale of the Cat - a proven sire in both hemispheres.
His trainer Patrick Biancone - a man who's trained dozens of star performers throughout his illustrious career loved Lion Heart.
"This horse is unbelieveable," Biancone said during his career. "I've never, ever, had a horse like this."
Lion Heart stands this spring at the service fee of $22,000 (inc GST).
MULL OF KINTYRE
(Danzig-Retrospective)
$5,500
Like former champion Coolmore shuttler Danehill, Mull of Kintyre is by the influential sire and sire of sires in Danzig.
The equal cheapest of the seventeen stallions standing this spring at the property, Mull of Kintyre has already become a popular addition to the stallions ranks.
Mull of Kintyre won two of his nine starts - a maiden by seven lengths and a Group Two Gimcrack Stakes by three lengths.
The stallion is from a dual winning half sister to champion sire Broad Brush.
Mull of Kintyre stands this spring at the service fee of $5,500 (inc GST).
ROCK OF GIBRALTAR
(Danehill-Offshore Boom)
$82,500
A champion racehorse. That's the best way to describe Rock of Gibraltar. A son of the champion sire and sire of sires Danehill, already 'The Rock' is making headlines as a young sire.
The handsome shuttler is one of the most talked about young sires with his youngsters already selling for Australasian records at the sales.
Coolmore will be hoping that the strapping stallion will pass on the champion galloping qualities he had when he was asked to race during an illustrious career.
Rock of Gibraltar broke all records when he ran in and won seven consecutive Group One races on the international scene - a feat never seen before - and possibly never again. All of the wins were in top grade - meeting and beating the best they could find to run against him.
Already members of Rock of Gibraltar's first Australian crop have made their presence felt at the sales around the country.
In fact at June's Magic Millions National Weanling Sale on the Gold Coast one of his cracking colts smashing the Australian record for a horse of his age when he was sold for $660,000.
It's not surprising that most of the region's top breeders have already sent mares to be served by Rock of Gibraltar. And most are returning again.
Like the team at Coolmore, I am very much looking forward to January's Magic Millions Yearling Sales where a good selection of his first crop of yearlings will go under the hammer.
Rock of Gibraltar stands this spring at the service fee of $82,500 (inc GST).
ROYAL ACADEMY
(Nijinsky-Crimson Saint)
$27,500
Former top class galloper Royal Academy is one of the world's most successful sires. The evergreen son of Nijinsky is the sire of over 100 individual stakes winners - something only a handful of the world's great sires through history have achieved.
In Australia he is best known as the sire of Group One winners including Bel Esprit and Kenwood Melody. Overseas his G1 starts include Oscar Schindler, Val Royal, Ali-Royal, Zalaiyka, Sleepytime, Bullish Luck and Carmine Lake.
Let's not forgot that Royal Academy was an outstanding racehorse in his own right. He raced on just seven occasions for four wins and two second placings.
He won the Breeders' Cup Mile at Belmont Park and the July Cup at Newmarket. He was also second in the Irish 2000 Guineas and Ladbroke Sprint Cup at Haydock Park.
Royal Academy stands this spring at Coolmore at the service fee of $27,500 (inc GST).
SPINNING WORLD
(Nureyev-Imperfect Circle)
$13,750
While he doesn't get along that well with his human friends, Spinning World continues to do what he does best - sire winners!
Spinning World, a son of Nureyev, was a crack galloper. He won eight of his 14 starts and missed a place just once.
His better wins came in the Breeders' Cup Mile, Prix du Moulin, Irish 2000 Guineas and two editions of the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville.
Spinning World's Australian progeny include the former champion three-year-old filly Special Harmony and the now New Zealand based stallion - Stradbroke Handicap winner Thorn Park.
Spinning World stands this spring at the service fee of $13,750 (inc GST).
TALE OF THE CAT
(Storm Cat-Yarn)
$33,000
Last, but by no means least, is Coolmore's outstanding son of champion sire Storm Cat, Tale of the Cat.
The attractive bay or brown horse looked a picture when he paraded - prancing about in front of the captive audience.
Tale of the Cat, who is a half brother to the Group One Phoenix Stakes winner Minardi, was an extremely fast racehorse. He won five of his nine starts including the Group Two King's Bishop Stakes at Saratoga by five and a half lengths.
Unraced at two, Tale of the Cat won three of his five starts as a three-year-old. He won his maiden at Monmouth by eleven and a half lengths before training on to win two Allowance races by eleven and a half lengths and four and a quarter lengths.
His best Australian based galloper to date is the Group One Goodwood Handicap winner Glamour Puss - the mare who chased home Alinghi in the Robert Sangster Stakes. She resumes in tomorrow's Group One Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley.
Tale of the Cat stands this spring at the service fee of $33,00 (inc GST).
______________________________________________________________________
All of the stallions were, as expected, beautifully presented and handled expertly by the professional staff at Coolmore.
Over 2,000 mares will visit Coolmore for a spring serve this season and those broodmare owners can feel confident that their mare will be in great hands.
Who will be the next star stallion unearthed by
Coolmore - well time will tell. For what it's worth I think Hawk Wing could
be the surprise packet.
PICS - Greg Irvine.
© Cyberhorse 2024 Greg Irvine Published 09/09/05