Armidale Stud are proud to announce their stallion roster for 2022, headlined by Group 1 sire Needs Further and emerging young Stakes producing sire Alpine Eagle.
Proven speed sire Needs Further has been well represented this season with a host of sprinter-miler winners in Australia and Singapore.
“Needs Further has had another great season. He’s got plenty of nice young horses coming through, with one of those being three-year-old filly Our Heidi, who won dominantly in VIC and was only beaten 0.1L in the Listed Crockett Stakes at Moonee Valley,” said Armidale Stud’s David Whishaw.
“He tends to throw very sound, durable horses, and we’re really seeing the benefits of this in his older, more seasoned campaigners.”
“Mystic Journey has been such a tough race mare and it was great to see her in good form during the spring. She placed in all three starts at Group level and was painfully close to adding another Group 1 to her record when going down by a neck in the Empire Rose.”
“Deroche has also won another three races this season, including the Listed TTC Newmarket Handicap, taking her winning tally to 13,” David noted.
Yearlings by Needs Further have been a popular choice for astute judges at the sales with a pair of colts selling for $97,500 and $80,000 at the Tasmanian Magic Millions Sale.
Needs Further will be an accessible option for breeders looking to send their mares to a proven stallion and will stand at a reduced fee of $6,600 inc GST in 2022.
Alpine Eagle’s prominence as one of the country’s most exciting young sires reached a new level this season. With three months still left on the racing calendar, he has already sired Stakes horses in three states across Australia (VIC, SA, TAS) and as expected, his first crop of three-year-old’s duly delivered.
“Taking Alpine Eagle’s High Chaparral/Zabeel pedigree into account, we always anticipated that his progeny would really start hitting their straps at three,” David explained.
“What is really pleasing for us is that, like him, many of his stock are racing and winning at two and have been great spring and autumn contenders at three.”
Alpine Eagle’s incredibly consistent son Alpine Wolf has put together a distinguished record of four wins and two seconds from six starts. Unbeaten during his juvenile season, the Barry Campbell trained galloper returned at three to take out the Listed Tasmanian Guineas and Listed Launceston Guineas double.
Precocious two-year-old Eye of the Eagle has been an excellent flag bearer for his sire in Victoria this season, with the John McArdle trained speedster narrowly beaten in the Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes at Caulfield.
In South Australia, his daughter The Map, has been a considerable force, contesting the state’s Classic Stakes races and was recently third in the Listed SAJC Clare Lindop Stakes.
The infinite rise of High Chaparral’s sire sons is growing increasingly prominent, with So You Think soaring to new heights to claim the top spot on the Australian General Sires’ Premiership.
Toronado and Tivaci both sired new Group 1 winners this season, while Dundeel sired multiple top-class Group winners. Alpine Eagle joins the list of High Chaparral’s successful sire sons with three new Stakes horses to his credit, with the best yet to come.
“Alpine Eagle’s largest crop are now weanlings, and we’re confident that we have given him every chance possible. His progeny have continued to gain admirers in the sale ring, with some of the country’s best judges buying them in 2022,” said David.
Alpine Eagle represents immense value and will stand at a reduced fee of $5,500 inc GST in 2022.
For further information about Armidale’s stallions, don’t hesitate to contact David Whishaw at +61 407 868 269 or Rhiannon Whishaw at +61 438 302 056.
