The Champion Sire on the general list in 2008 and 2009, Encosta de Lago earned his first Champion Broodmare Sire title last season and has made a swift start to retain the title siring the dams of winners of over $2.2 million since August 1 including four stakes-winners.
Impending (Lonhro), Allergic (Street Cry(IRE), Defcon (Choisir) and Divine Prophet (Choisir) are those stakes-winners and all four look as though they will be improving on their tally this season.
Bred by Emirates Park, Encosta de Lago fetched $140,000 at the 1995 Inglis Australian
Easter Yearling Sale and was from the first crop of Australian bred foals by
then high class shuttler Fairy King (USA), who visited Australia in 1992.A full brother to champion sire Sadler's Wells, Fairy King was given his chance at Coolmore starting off at a modest fee to become a leading sire in his own right in Europe and through Encosta de Lago has established a lasting legacy in Australia.
Encosta de Lago's sire dynasty in this part of the world has enjoyed rapid expansion in recent years thanks largely to his ill-fated son Northern Meteor, but with the likes of Delago Deluxe and Rubick waiting in the wings the future of this sireline extends in many directions.
The power of his daughters is only really starting to kick in as the bigger and better books of mares he covered in his middle years (2002 – 2009) at Coolmore spread their wings.
Retired from stud duty in 2014, Encosta de Lago is now enjoying his retirement and his last small crop of nine live foals will be sought after at sales next year.
