Needs Further has been in the national spotlight of late primarily due to the
racetrack deeds of his outstanding 3-year-old daughter, Group 1 Australian
Guineas and inaugural All-Star Mile winner, Mystic Journey."There has been an incredible amount of interest from mainland studs in relocating Needs Further" disclosed Armidale Stud's Managing Director David Whishaw. "But all said and done we are passionate about the Tasmanian racing and breeding industry and we believe Needs Further can continue to be a success at stud whilst standing in Tasmania."
Needs Further currently sits in seventh position on the Australian 3-year-old Sires list behind Zoustar, Redoute's Choice, Teofilo, I Am Invincible, Spirit of Boom and Snitzel, and in the top thirty on the General Sires list, ahead of stallions such as Hinchinbrook, Spirit Of Boom, Dundeel and More Than Ready.
"I think he has done an incredible job to be where he is with only three crops of racing age and all told around seventy runners. He is also running third on the Third Season Sires list, behind Pierro and All Too Hard, both of whom have had nearly three times the number of starters as he has had", Whishaw commented.
Needs Further has continued to be a standout sire of 2-year-olds in his home state, once again siring Tasmania's leading 2-year-old for the third season running. Needs Further's progeny have now won every 2-year-old feature race in the state, with his latest 2-year-old progeny including the unbeaten dual stakes winner Mystical Pursuit, and Deroche, a comprehensive winner of the 2019 Magic Millions 2-year-old Classic, as well as running the aforementioned Mystical Pursuit to a nose in Tasmania's "Golden Slipper", the $150,000 Gold Sovereign Stakes (Listed). He is also the sire of dual stakes winning 2-year-old Pateena Arena and multiple stakes placed Our Long Sali.
The eye-catching son of High Chaparral, Alpine Eagle will also stand alongside Needs Further again in 2019.
"The farm was eagerly awaiting the arrival of his first foals and we have not been disappointed. All the good judges have been blown away with the quality he is stamping on his foals. They are like peas in a pod. It doesn't matter what type of mare people have put to him, they all seem to have come out with his stunning good looks and that great High Chap walk", said Whishaw.
Alpine Eagle has covered 106 and 91 mares in his first two seasons, and with Dundeel already making his mark as a sire, Armidale expects Alpine Eagle to be very popular with both local and interstate breeders again.
"I believe at Armidale we have the perfect climate and some of the best pastures in Australia for rearing thoroughbreds, and I am certain this is the key to us producing strong boned, tough racehorses. We have seen the likes of Mystic Journey, Hellova Street, Like a Carousel, Lady Lynette, Pateena Arena and Mystical Pursuit all come off the farm in recent times," Whishaw explains with pride.
Whishaw continues, "Over the last couple of years an increasing number of mainland breeders are realising just how accessible and realistically priced our stallions are and I expect this recognition will continue to grow. Our very realistic service, agistment and veterinary fees plus our great pastures and climate, all add up to make Tassie a very attractive and affordable option for interstate breeders."
Needs Further will stand at a fee of $12,500 plus GST and Alpine Eagle will remain at his 2018 fee of $7,000 plus GST.
For more information and full details of the travel subsidies available for interstate mares please contact David Whishaw on 0407 868 269 or go to www.armidalestud.com.au
