Ilala, the stud on the southern outskirts of Scone which has emerged in only twelve months as the biggest asset in the region for breeders who want to have the satisfaction of using Hunter Valley sires but at modest cost, is to have eight sires available for 2006.

This follows the decision to retire the powerfully built American bred Sippin' Bourbon without racing out here as originally intended. A four-year-old 16.5 hands bay with the same tremendous Storm Cat hindquarters as his noted sire Hennessy, he is to be available for a use at $5,500 but is to be restricted to forty outside mares.

Sippin' Bourbon is not only by a very successful Coolmore Stud sire in Hennessy but he boasts being a half-brother to Smarty Jones, the 2004 giant of American three-year-old racing who lost but once in his nine start career and this was at his final outing appearance in America's longest triple crown races, the Belmont Stakes over 2400m. He had won the first legs of the classic treble, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes - by a spectacular 11.5 lengths, and five other stakes including a juvenile event by 15 lengths.

Sippin' Bourbon and Smarty Jones are from the tough Man o'War male line mare I'll Get Along (by the In Reality dual Group 1 winner Smile), a winner of 12 races including two stakes. She is from Don't Worry About Me, a stakes winning daughter of the top sire Foolish Pleasure, a grandson of Bold Ruler, and a half-sister to Group1 winner Basie.The bottom line goes back to one of the most celebrated matriarches in American history.

Sippin' Bourbon is to be one of three newcomers in 2006 at the Ilala Stud, one established and run by George and Felicity Fraser. Both already proven sires, the other two are Danehill's brother Nuclear Freeze and the dashing Marscay sprinter Jetball, a brother to the good sire Marwina.

Jetball is to be one of two sires at Ilala that have had winners up to Group 1 level, the other being the Star Way track record setting Epsom Handicap winner Filante. He was one of five sires used when the stud made its facilities available for the first time last year, sharing the new complex, one located on country which was formerly part of the historic St Aubins Stud, with Amalfi (Carnegie Victoria Derby winner),Techrico (a son of Zabeel and a Vain Golden Slipper second), Vice Admiral (a brother by Deputy Minister to Dehere) and Eagle Rise (a son of Danehill and a Western Symphony stakes winner),

© Brian Russell Bloodstock Media Service Published 25/05/06