With three metropolitan winners last Saturday and another winner on Sunday, Stockwell Thoroughbreds based Al Maher has again reminded breeders of his great reliability and affordability as we head into another breeding season.
His winning treble on Saturday featured two promising three year-old fillies in Dancing Gidget (Sydney) and Chassis (Melbourne) along with veteran mare Bertwhistle (Adelaide), who is still going strong at age seven and has won over $250,000 in prizemoney. Read about them here.
The Chris Waller trained Dancing Gidget is a very progressive filly with three wins and three seconds from nine starts and her two runs this campaign have both resulted in success, giving the promise of Black Type to come.
She’s an interesting filly being a homebred for the Ingham family and is the best of five foals to race from their stakes-winning Encosta de Lago mare Little Surfer Girl, who has been covered by a variety of leading sires with Al Maher giving her the best result to date.
Al Maher is a three-quarter brother-in-blood to Redoute’s Choice, so it’s always worth considering what works for Redoute’s is also likely to work for Al Maher when exploring mating plans.
Dancing Gidget is an interesting mating given her dam is by Encosta de Lago, who has a good affinity with Redoute’s Choice and his daughters have also had six winners from eight runners by Al Maher including Group II winner Pheidon.
Her second dam is by Spinning World (USA) who traces in tail female line to Best in Show as does Al Maher giving Dancing Gidget a double cross 5 x 7 of the influential blue hen.
Al Maher is standing at the bargain basement fee this year of $8,800 in response to the financial hardship arising from the global pandemic and represents phenomenal value for a stallion that has over 5% stakes-winners to runners.
Fitting the same profile and with a similar 5% stakes-winners to runners is his Stockwell Thoroughbreds barnmate Artie Schiller (USA), who stands this season at a fee of $11,000.
Artie Schiller has had a pair of Group winners this season in Reykjavik and Flirtini, while his champion son Flying Artie has had his first yearlings being offered for sale.
Stockwell Thoroughbreds Mike Becker makes the point his stallions have stood the test of time and continue to deliver.
“Neither stallion has ever been afforded huge books of mares throughout their careers, yet both have stood up remarkably well, not only on the racetrack, but in sale rings across the country,” Becker said.
“And noticeably, both are now beginning to impact as broodmare sires in a highly promising way.”
Al Maher in particular has kicked a big goal in that area with his daughters producing seven stakes-winners headed by 2020 Group I ATC Australian Derby winner Quick Thinker and Group I placed Group II winner Madam Rouge.
“These stallions take a lot of cost risks out of the equation for broodmare owners in a very volatile market, especially when you know what you can expect from their progeny,” Becker concluded.
“Both stallions will be limited to a sensible book this year to provide mare owners the best fertility opportunities and Stockwell Thoroughbreds can offer a complete range of experienced care in foaling, vetting and rearing and communication with breeders.
“With more than 30 years experience, Stockwell is able to offer a complete range of all clients requirements.”
