Increased opportunity is the catalyst that can often elevate a good sire into a great one and Tasmanian sire sensation Needs Further is poised for that next phase of his career after relocating to Aquis Farm in Victoria this spring.
A blue-blooded Group III winning son of Encosta de Lago from the family of champion sire Zabeel, Needs Further started his stud career at Armidale Stud in Tasmania and proved an immediate success.
His first crop contained brilliant filly Pateena Arena, who started five times at two for three wins, two of those victories coming in the Listed Gold Sovereign Stakes and Elwick Stakes to stamp herself as Tasmania’s best juvenile.
His next crop delivered Group I winner Mystic Journey, who beat the best in Victoria to win the VRC Australian Guineas against the colts and top class Group II placed stakes-winning sprinter Bold Star.
The third crop for Needs Further produced Group III winner Deroche, who also won the Magic Millions Tasmanian 2YO Classic and Mystical Pursuit, another precocious juvenile that was undefeated at two, winning all four starts including the Listed Gold Sovereign and Elwick Stakes.
The sire of 59 winners that have won over $7.6million, Needs Further runs at 8.5% stakes-winners to winners.
With five individual stakes winners to his credit, an achievement recorded with 101 runners, the record of Needs Further betters fellow Victorian-based sires Shamus Award, Al Maher, Magnus, Foxwedge and Street Boss, while also reaching that mark in a quicker time frame than heavy weight stallions Snitzel, Encosta De Lago, Written Tycoon and Not A Single Doubt.
Needs Further recorded his first Group 1 winner, Mystic Journey, from just 66 runners, quicker than all those previously stated and only a few runners behind I Am Invincible on 61.
All of that success has come from horses bred in Tasmania at the modest fee of just $3,300, so increased opportunity is clearly going to boost the stocks of Needs Further going forward.
Last year, he covered his biggest ever book of 103 mares at a fee of $13,750 and this spring will have access to a whole new spectrum of mares with his switch to Victoria.
Needs Further will seek to follow in the footsteps of other current leading sires that started off at modest fees, the list including I Am Invincible ($11,000), Written Tycoon ($8,250) and Not a Single Doubt ($13,750), while his own sire Encosta de Lago started at $8,500.
Needs Further is priced this spring at $13,750, so don’t miss what might be the last opportunity to go to this stallion at such an affordable fee.
