The stars have aligned for Needs Furtherand what looked like a good investment by the Whishaw family, may well in fact be a great one.
In the time since his purchase, Encosta de Lago has gone from strength to strength as a sire of sires through the deeds of Northern Meteor and Manhattan Rain, while his half-brother Hallowed Crown established himself as one of the best three year-olds in the country.
This time last year, the Bart and James Cummings trained Gooree Stud homebred Hallowed Crown was starting his meteoric rise to the top of the tree with brilliant wins in the Group III ATC Run to the Rose and $1million Group I Golden Rose.
He returned in the autumn to win the Group I ATC Randwick Guineas and is now embarking on his first season at stud with Darley in the Hunter Valley at a fee of $33,000.
Even without Hallowed Crown in the picture, Needs Further was popular in his debut year at Armidale covering 70 mares at a fee of $3,300, but last spring that number rose significantly to 88 off the back of his famous sibling.
Needs Further and Hallowed Crown are from Gooree Stud's Group III winning Golden Slipper place-getter Crowned Glory, a daughter of champion sire Danehill (USA).
Her next two dams are by Bletchingly and Nureyev, with third dam Lady Giselle, gaining international fame and fortune as the dam of champion sire Zabeel.
This is a premium mainland pedigree through and through, which explains the tremendous interest in Needs Further, not only from Tasmanian breeders, but also those from further afield.
Well credentialed sons of Encosta de Lago have been targeted by some of the most astute studs in the country with Coolmore launching Rubick (service fee $17,600) this year and Newhaven Park getting ready to sell the first yearlings by their young sire Delago Deluxe (service fee $11,000) in 2016.
Needs Further has the pedigree and race performance to be comparable with either, yet stands at a fraction of the fee.
His first stunning foals last spring delighted breeders (click here to see them), so it's now full steam ahead for Needs Further, who has the potential to make a huge impact for Tasmania and beyond.
For more information on Needs Further contact David Whishaw on 0407 868269 or by email david@armidalestud.com.au