‘Booked out!’ Is what breeders are told who are seeking to visit the reigning Champion Sire of Two Year Olds, More Than Ready (USA), and for those still keen to utilize a Halo line stallion in the Hunter Valley this year, the pickings are slim, which is why triple Group One winner Southern Image (USA) is well worth consideration.
Southern Image was retired to stud with the imposing record of six wins and two placings from only eight starts and $1.8 million in prizemoney - and to quote leading bloodstock agent Adrian Hancock, “Australia has never seen a Halo line horse with Southern Image’s level of race performance.”
South African buyers have been notable in recent years for their investment in Australian yearlings particularly at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast where they spent more than $8,3 million on some 39 yearlings in 2007.
There are very few vendors who have not sold a horse to the South Africans at some stage over the last few years, particularly to high profile trainer Charles Laird, so it’s pleasing to see so many Aussie bred winners emerging to justify their investment and hopefully keep them coming back for more.
Even for the casual Aussie racing fan the Group One onslaught in Europe being carried out by leading Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has been impossible to miss with a stream of Ballydoyle runners spreading their wings far and wide to capture 17 Group One races so far this year.
Underpinning the achievements of arguably the most powerful stable in the world has been the success of the Coolmore based sires (current and past), who now hold six of the top ten spots in the General Sires List for Europe by earnings at August 4.
1/ Commands had a new stakes-winner last Saturday in the Group Three MRC Bletchingly Stakes, can you name him?
2/ The third season sires list for 2007/2008 has provided a ding-dong battle between a Queensland based sire and a shuttle sire that died, who are they and which of them won?
3/ Who was the Champion Broodmare Sire for 2007/2008?
4/ Anabaa had a Group One winner in France at the weekend, what is her name?
5/ Takeover Target’s half-brother Predatory Pricer won at Kembla on Wednesday, who is his sire?
TARA MADGWICK
Sydney Race 5 No. 1 Black Minx.
Very smart Brisbane filly, who will take beating and has some residual fitness in her favour having raced during the winter carnival.
CRAIG TOMPSON
Sydney Race 5 No. 4 Duporth.
Excellent prospect. The right type to make it to the top. Expecting a huge return.
