BK Racing’s Manager Ben Vassallo today announced Farnan's three-quarter brother Sandbar had run his last race and is being put on the market as a stallion prospect.
“Sandbar has given his ownership group a great ride”, commented Vassallo. “He will be a worthy stallion for whichever farm secures him.”
Sandbar retires as a winner of four races and $525,970 in prize money.
A dual Sydney stakes winner as a 2-year-old and 3-year-old, Sandbar has form around the likes of The Autumn Sun, Written By, Zousain and Lean Mean Machine, all who retired to high profile stud farms and have been well received by Australian breeders.
Sandbar retires to stud with a similar profile to two other sons of Snitzel in the ill-fated Spill the Beans and up and coming first season stallion Sooboog.
Sandbar was always a bit of a headline act from the time he made his first public appearance at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, selling for $650,000 to Jadeskye Racing/BK Racing.
Highlights from Sandbar’s racing career included:
- Won first start as a 2-year-old (Canterbury 1200m), defeating Godolphin trained Marmaris and The Enzo, who went on to win the rich ATC Inglis 2-Year-Old Classic (Restricted Listed) at his next start.
- Won his second start, the Listed ATC Lonhro Plate (Warwick Farm - 1100m), defeating last start Gimcrack Stakes (Listed) winner Satin Slippers.
- Ran last start Group 1 MRC Blue Diamond Stakes Winner Written By to a short neck in the Group 2 ATC Pago Pago Stakes (Rosehill 1200m).
- Beaten 4 lengths in the Group 1 ATC Golden Slipper (Rosehill 1200m) behind Estijaab. Just over 2 lengths from third placed Sunlight (Champion Filly).
- On his 3-year-old debut won the Listed ATC Rosebud Quality (Rosehill 1100m), carrying equal top weight of 59kgs, giving 6kgs to the second and third placed horses Aramani and Golden Tycoon.
- Fourth in the Group 1 ATC Golden Rose (Rosehill 1400m) beaten 1.5 lengths behind The Autumn Sun, Zousain and Graf, and finishing ahead of Group winners Lean Mean Machine (Group 2), Santos (Group 2), Danawi (Group 3) and Seabrook (Group 1).
- Second in the Group 2 ATC Roman Consul Stakes (Randwick 1200m), beaten 1.3 lengths by Sesar, and finishing ahead of Stakes Winners Charge (Group 3), Jonker (Listed) and Aylmerton (Group 2).
- Sandbar achieved a peak Timeform Rating of 116. This is the same peak rating given to Group 2 winner Spill the Beans and 6lbs higher than Group 3 Sooboog’s peak rating of 110.
Sandbar is a son of four times Champion Australian Sire Snitzel (by Redoute’s Choice), whose sons at stud include leading Victorian sire Shamus Award, the ill-fated Queensland stallion Spill the Beans and promising first season sires Sooboog and Odyssey Moon.
Sandbar is a three-quarter brother to last season’s Champion Australian 2-year-old Farnan (by Not A Single Doubt, by Redoute’s Choice). Winner of the ATC Golden Slipper (Group 1), ATC Silver Slipper (Group 2) and ATC Todman Stakes (Group 2). His dam is Group 3 winner Tallow, a daughter of Champion Sire Street Cry. He comes from the family of Champions Lowan Star (AJC Oaks) and Musidora (English 1000 Guineas).
While recently spelling at Greg Bennett’s Fenwick Farm, the respected horseman described Sandbar as a beautiful colt with a fantastic nature. Greg stated, “There is a lot to like about Sandbar. He is a good-sized horse with plenty of strength and quality. He is easy to handle and will let down into a lovely stallion.”
On behalf of Sandbar’s ownership group, Vassallo has instructed Brett Howard from Randwick Bloodstock with the task of finding a buyer for Sandbar. Howard declared “I know it’s a commonly heard cliché in our industry, however Sandbar does tick all the boxes for a lot of Australian breeders. Firstly, he is a sprinter with stakes winning form as a 2-year-old and 3-year-old. Secondly, he well bred, being by a multiple Champion Sire out of a top-class broodmare who in turn is by a Champion Sire. And thirdly, he is a great physical with a tremendous disposition.”
For more information, please contact Brett Howard at Randwick Bloodstock on 0403 037 773 or randwickbloodstock@bigpond.com
