When you can boast two of Victoria’s best young stallions in addition to one of the best value, proven sires in the land, the cause for optimism at Rosemont Stud leading into the 2020 Breeding Season is justifiably deserved.
New recruit SHAMUS AWARD (Snitzel) has enjoyed a stellar twelve months highlighted by the likes of Group One winner MR QUICKIE, Group Two winners SOUL PATCH & ETANA, Group Three winner TRUE DETECTIVE in addition to producing the effortless two-year-old winner of the $150k Gold Rush SWAT’S THAT.
Last but not least, he sired the quinella in the 2yo Anzac Day Stakes at Flemington last month via FLYING AWARD & IRONEDGE, a race that has produced the likes of Merchant Navy, Super Seth & Long John in recent years.
Rosemont Principal Anthony Mithen believes Shamus Award is on the cusp of becoming an elite stallion for not just Victoria but Australia wide.
“If you look at the last 12 months in isolation, there hasn’t been a Victorian based stallion return a better percentage to runners at the combined Group / Group One level and that includes the recently departed Written Tycoon. Multiple Group winners to 2yo Stakes Quinella’s his recent results have been white hot.
“With over 120 mares in foal we think the future for Shamus Award is enormous and he’s indicative of Rosemont stallions being priced on racetrack results as opposed to ‘hype’.“
Mithen is particularly encouraged by the stats that prove the best son of Snitzel at stud is producing horses with that precocious speed.
“80% of his winners are from 1000m to 1400m. So while his headline acts have shown the strength to stretch at a mile and further, it appears his inherit genetic make-up is speed. Given the number of Stakes Winners he’s had over the last twelve he’s incredible value.”
Shamus Award will stand for $19,800 inc GST (up from $11,000 in 2019)
Multiple Group One winning sprinter & Royal Ascot hero STARSPANGLEDBANNER is another that has enjoyed an outstanding twelve months highlighted by yet another Group One winning 2yo in the UK.
Fresh off a dominant win in the Listed 2yo Curragh Stakes, MILLISILE proved just as superior in the Gr1 Chevelely Park Stakes and thus ensuring she was Champion UK 2yo filly of last season. In Australia, he sired the brilliant winner of the $2m Inglis Millennium via PRIME STAR for China Horse Club and just this month the Tony Gollan trained STAROSA has rocketed up the market for the J.J Atkins Gr1 after she demolished her opposition at Doomben by over six lengths.
Starspangledbanner is currently in the Top 5 2yo Sires in Australia whilst in the sales ring his yearlings have sold for up to 750,000gns – that particular purchase a filly for Godolphin who won her debut as a 2yo by over 5 lengths in 2019.
Mithen is thrilled to have the popular young stallion return to Rosemont in 2020, the farm where he was born.
“He’s enjoyed a phenomenol year and I urge breeders to have a close look at his career statistics. As he stands, he’s the #1 Stallion in Victoria by Stakes Winners / Runners with over 6.3%.
“In fact, it’s a fair margin in percentage to his closest counterpart in this state. If Shamus Award is not the best value stallion in the country then this horse surely must be! Importantly, he’s finished the previous season with a very healthy fertility percentage of over 72%.
“We’ve managed him particularly well and find that with added maturity and spacing his covers ensures his fertility is as efficient as most stallions.”
Starspangledbanner will stand for $19,800 inc GST (down from $22,000 in 2019)
Proven sire STARCRAFT whose yearlings at the 2020 Magic Millions averaged $150,000 with lots selling for up to $340,000, $320,000 etc will stand for great value of $8,800 inc GST.
Rosemont will also provide a strictly limited number of ‘Toss The Boss’ deals which have been enormously popular & ensuring breeders genuine flexibility – you don’t pay if you don’t get what you want.
A sire of 40+ Stakes Horses and Group One winners such as STAR WITNESS, Starcraft continues to be a leading sire in Hong Kong and the appetite for his progeny in the Asian racing jurisdictions is as strong as ever.
Medaglia D’Oro’s brilliant Group winning sprinter NOSTRADAMUS, represented with his first crop of 2yo’s in season 2019/2020 rounds out the Rosemont roster at $5,500 inc GST.
With a number of promising 2yo’s to have raced and in work, the expectation is strong that his progeny will continue to develop into high class 3yo’s just like their sire.
