World renowned sire Shamardal is already leaving a lasting legacy through his sire sons with Wyndholm Park based Crackerjack King (IRE) adding to their success and offering budget conscious breeders the opportunity to access this highly progressive sireline.
A fast Group I winner with seven victories up to 2200 metres from just 14 starts, Crackerjack King has elite race performance and pedigree being a sibling to four other stakes-winners including Group I winners Jakkalberry and Awelmarduk.
With his oldest progeny just completing their three year-old season, Crackerjack King has produced some encouraging results from limited numbers.
He has had nine offspring to race so far and eight have placed including five winners headed by two time winner Crypto Currency and Jack’s a Cracker, who has been twice placed at Morphettville and has won over $50,000 in prizemoney.
The horse that is really exciting Wyndholm Park’s Kim McKellar though is Crackerjack King’s two year-old colt Shadow Prey.
Trained at Ballarat by Simon Morrish, Shadow Prey was fifth on debut at his home track last month before stepping up to 1800 metres at Flemington where he finished a close third to early Victoria Derby favourite Alycone.
The performance has connections eagerly awaiting the spring with Shadow Prey’s female pedigree being from a High Chaparral mare suggesting longer trips will be his forte.
Crackerjack King is one of seven Group I winners sired by Shamardal from mares carrying Sadler’s Well blood and Dr McKellar sees doubling up to Sadler’s Wells as in the pedigree for Shadow Prey as a positive.
Priced at just $6,600, Crackerjack King represents great value given the demand for sons of Shamardal, who died earlier this year after spending his last years as virtually a private sire for Sheikh Mohammed.
Shamardal is the sire of exciting Godolphin owned Group I winning colts Pinatubo, Earthlight and Victor Ludorum, not to mention his champion sprinting son Blue Point (IRE), who shuttles to Darley Victoria this spring at a fee of $44,000.
Another of his sons, Puissance de Lune (IRE) has also made a big impression in Victoria covering 154 mares last spring at a fee of $8,800, his popularity sparked by the success of stakes-winning progeny Moonlight Maid and Chantrea as well as Group placed Southern Moon and Heart of Puissance.
Puissance de Lune has had a big fee increase this year and stands at $19,800, again highlighting the comparative value of Crackerjack King, who could well have a Classic contender this spring if Shadow Prey continues to progress as anticipated.
