Racetree to Offer First of the Greenwood Lakes

Progressive Queensland based farm Racetree will head to Magic Millions in 2009 with a terrific draft of 16 yearlings to be offered in Sessions One to Five including three from the first Australian crop of their well credentialed sire Greenwood Lake (USA)

“Greenwood Lake has a lot to like about him and as a three-quarter brother to a household name like Success Express, his yearlings are well worth consideration,” said Racetree principal, Kevin Dixon.

Imported to Australia in 2006, Greenwood Lake (pictured) features an outcross pedigree as he is by outstanding US stallion Meadowlake, the sire of more than 50 stakes-winners and a son of Hold Your Peace, the sire of Success Express (USA).

A Group One winner of the Belmont Stakes at two, Greenwood Lake and Breeders Cup Juvenile winner Success Express are both from the exceptional producer Au Printemps.

“She’s the dam of three successful sires in Success Express, Greenwood Lake and Charlie Barley, who was the champion turf horse in Canada,” explained Dixon.

“Greenwood Lake was the second highest rating juvenile in North America in 1999 and defeated More Than Ready in both of his stakes wins.

“He returned at three to finish fourth first up in the Gr1 Fountain of Youth Stakes and was early favourite for the Kentucky Derby, but he injured a front fetlock whilst training for the Florida Derby and was retired to stud for the 2001 US season.”

Greenwood Lake has had 115 runners as at the end of 2008, primarily in North America, for 79 winners of 192 races or 68% winners to runners.

In an interesting comparison, Success Express has statistics of 512 runners for 356 winners or 69%, winner to runner, an uncanny similarity.

 
 

Greenwood Lake’s progeny are adept on dirt and turf with an average winning distance of around 1400 metres and include nine stakes horses led by stakes-winners Lake Secret and Placid Lake

A permanent resident at Racetree, Greenwood Lake’s first crop of foals are now yearlings and stamped very much in the mould of what we used to see from the Success Express stock - well-balanced, neat and athletic individuals and if anything probably a touch bigger on average.

To be offered during Book One are the following three youngsters:

Lot 79 Colt Greenwood Lake (USA) x Simply Flawless, by Pricelessly (USA)

Fourth foal of unraced half-sister to Group Two winner Tarare in Simply Flawless, who has started her stud career with a bang producing two winners from two runners.

Lot 280 Filly Greenwood Lake (USA) x Betty Blockbuster (NZ), by Zabeel

Second foal of an unraced full sister to Group One winner Inaflury, by champion sire Zabeel, who has enjoyed a successful nick with Success Express (USA) to produce stakes-winners such as Cox Plate hero Savabeel.

Lot 752 Colt Greenwood Lake (USA) x Accolady, by Royal Academy (USA)

Second foal of winning daughter of Group Three placed Discreet Lady from an American Black Type family.

“The majority of the Greenwood Lake yearlings will be coming to the MM March QTIS 600 sale, but his few in the January showcase sale should set him up well for the future and get him off to a good start,” said Dixon.

Greenwood Lake also has five entries in Magic Millions Book Two including Racetree’s Lot 960, a colt from the Danehill (USA) mare Pocketfullofdreams, bred on a similar cross to champion filly Gold Edition, who was by the Danehill horse Lion Hunter from a mare by Success Express.

“Many breeders have really tried to emulate the nicks that have worked for Success Express in the past, so Greenwood Lake has received a lot of mares carrying Sir Tristram and Semipalatinsk blood, a factor that could really work well long term,” Dixon added.

Click here to view photos and video footage of the entire Racetree draft.

For more information on Racetree’s MM 2009 draft contact Kevin Dixon on 0419 706 354, or Mark Wooldridge on 0407 860 247 or email enquiries@racetree.com.au