Eureka Stallions Set for a Busy Spring

One of Queensland's oldest and most respected family owned farms, Eureka Stud is poised for a busy breeding season with a four strong stallion roster headed by popular new recruit Defcon.

A brilliant and precocious sprinter by proven sire of sires Choisir, Defcon has been available for inspection at the Gold Coast this week during the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

His powerhouse sprinter's physique and the golden good looks reminiscent of his sire Choisir have proven very attractive to broodmare owners when matched with his affordable service fee of $8,800.

"We really like his profile to make a sire," said Eureka Stud's Scott McAlpine.

"Defcon had really high class two year old ability and retired with the speed, natural talent and a pedigree to make an important impact as a stallion."

A $340,000 Inglis Premier purchase for James Harron Bloodstock/ Snowden Racing, Defcon was the most expensive yearling by his sire sold in 2015 and is from a six time winning daughter of champion sire Encosta de Lago.

When put into work with Peter and Paul Snowden, Defcon quickly showed immense natural talent to match his price tag.

"In terms of natural ability he was up there with the very best 2YO's," Snowden said.

"He had real talent."

Defcon was the standout winner at the official Sydney spring two year-old trials running the fastest time of the morning.

He made his debut with a brave second on a very heavy track in the Group III ATC Canonbury Stakes and was then a luckless half-length second to subsequent Group I winner Astern in the Group II ATC Silver Slipper.

Sent to Canberra for the Group III Black Opal Stakes, he produced a scintillating last to first victory, powering away to leave dual Group I winner Prized Icon in his wake.

"He was one of the most brilliant early 2YO's I've ever ridden," said his rider Blake Shinn.

Defcon retires lightly raced, adding the Group III MRC HDF McNeil Stakes to his record at three before bowing out with two wins and two placings from eight starts.

All of his starts were in Group races, a fact clearly illustrating the high regard in which he was held.

Defcon joins the Eureka Stud roster to stand alongside dual Group I winning sprinter Spirit of Boom, who will have his first two year-olds race in the new season, and proven stakes producing sires Real Saga and Red Dazzler.

Standing at a fee of $11,000, Spirit of Boom is the best son of outstanding Queensland sire Sequalo and has been in high demand with broodmare owners since retiring to stud in 2014.

Spirit of Boom has covered 447 mares in his first three seasons giving him the sort of numbers to make a big commercial impact when his progeny hit the track.

They have already impressed in the sale ring this year selling for up to $210,000 at Magic Millions where three more of his yearlings also sold for six figures.

Spirit of Boom had six yearlings average $120,000 in Book I at Magic Millions and finished as the third most profitable sire at that sale by multiple of service fee behind only Written Tycoon and I am Invincible.

He also had seven yearlings in Book II average $47,143 and a further 30 sold at Magic Millions March for up to $90,000, so his progeny have met with widespread approval from buyers and have entered all the leading stables.

A three time Champion Queensland 2YO Sire, Real Saga has come across from Glenlogan Park Stud to stand at a fee of $9,900 and needs no introduction.