There’s an old saying about keeping yourself in the best of company and Victoria’s Riverbank Farm adheres to it better than most.
Riverbank, which prides itself on an incredible strike rate for the breed to race fraternity, already stands the only son of Black Caviar at stud (Prince of Caviar) and sole sibling to Winx (Boulder City) … both of which will be joined by the royally-bred, Kingwell, in 2025.
A $550,000 yearling, Kingwell is by 3-time Champion Australian Sire, I Am Invincible (117 stakes winners) and a half brother to super sire, Extreme Choice.
With I Am Invincible’s sire sons including such Group 1 producers as Brazen Beau, Hellbent and Overshare, along with 2025’s phenomenal money spinner, Home Affairs, the icing on the cake really is Extreme Choice.
At a service fee of $330,000 this spring for Extreme Choice – the highest priced stallion in Australia – you could say the opening ask for Kingwell, at $5,500, compares very favourably.
Although clearly a very speedy commodity, Kingwell was only raced sparingingly throughout his career, but had top four finishes in seven of his nine career starts.
“Russell (Osborne) purchased him online … when he saw his pedigree he thought Kingwell was perfect for Riverbank,” Caroline Osborne points out. “Our plan was to race him but we were forced to retire him earlier than planned due to injury. He won at Benalla on Cup day – a big thrill to have a win at our home track on the biggest meeting of the year. He’s a magnificent type and offers affordable access to superior bloodlines.
“He was trained by our daughter, Olivia, and she loves him … he’s a striking individual with a tremendous attitude.”
The arrival of Kingwell is not the only thing that’s putting the spring into spring for the Osbornes.
With his oldest now 3YOs, Prince of Caviar has some more than handy types including the Archie Alexander trained, Attachments, winner of her last two and clearly a filly with a big future.
Attachments is bred and raced by Neil Werrett of Black Caviar fame who also bred Prince of Caviar and has been a great supporter of the stallion since retiring to Riverbank.
Similarly, Boulder City is getting the job done with runners like this year’s multiple Moonee Valley winner, Expeetee, another Valley victor in Cobblestone Way – a winner last time out – along with the likes of Pacific Star (7 wins) and Pretty Penguin (6 wins).
High Chaparral horse, Wayed Zain – a close relation to Encosta de Lago – is getting winners on the board too and, despite limited numbers, is represented by multiple winners such as Gargantuan, Steve’s Way and Rockin’ Zain.
Meanwhile, the last of the Riverbank sires with runners is the ever reliable Redente, whose stakes horses include Brenlyns Trooper and Our Redente, while progeny earnings have shot past $10 million.
Not surprisingly, the Osbornes have got high hopes for the remarkable racehorse, Dalasan, who is gearing up to cover his third book of mares in 2025.
Well supported in his first two seasons by breeder/owner, Harry Perks, Dalasan was a multiple winner at 2, won five stakes races as a 3YO, was Group 1 placed in the Doncaster and Queen Elizabeth at 4, ran third in the Epsom and 5 and, just to round it all out, was a Listed winner at 6.
“We have got very high hopes for both Kingwell and of course, Dalasan, while the other four are a great mix of the proven and promising,” Caroline points out.
“Riverbank really does offer bred in the purple types with each of our six sires all by different Group 1 producing sires … indeed, those sires of sires have something like 730 stakes winners between them world-wide.
“Our aim is to provide well-credentialled stallions at affordable fees and I reckon we’ve really struck the right balance with our lineup for the coming spring.”
Riverbank Farm Roster 2025
Kingwell (new) $5,500
Dalasan $5,500
Boulder City $4,400
Prince of Caviar $4,400
Redente $3,300
Wayed Zain $2,200
Service fees include free return and routine reproductive vet fees (conditions apply).
