High-class Colt Off Table Among Choice Offerings
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday January 25, 2008
Australia's most expensive stallion, Redoute's Choice, has again been the headline horse of the week with startling news from both sides of the Tasman, relating to the Karaka Premier Sales beginning on Monday and the Inglis Yearling Sales in mid-April.
In New Zealand, the expected Karaka sales topper - the Redoute's Choice x Grand Echezeaux colt - has been withdrawn along with another filly by Redoute's Choice, reducing his representation at the sales to just three. Meanwhile, William Inglis revealed it would be offering an unprecedented total of 80 of Redoute's Choice's progeny at its Newmarket sales complex from Sunday, April 20.The 80 yearlings by one stallion in one sale is surely an Australasian record, possibly a world record, but so great is the demand for his progeny that any sales company would welcome them with open arms.The Grand Echezeaux colt was to be offered by Peter and Philip Vela's Pencarrow Stud on the opening day at Karaka. The colt is a three-quarter-brother to five-time group 1-winner Darci Brahma and his female pedigree is among New Zealand's best. Pencarrow Stud manager Leon Casey explained the withdrawal earlier this week to Bloodlines."The colt has been withdrawn from the Karaka Sales because, as you are aware, colts of this pedigree are judged to very high standards," Casey said. "There is no middle ground and it has become apparent in the last few weeks that this colt has some relatively minor issues that will preclude him from meeting these market standards. We have decided, in the best interests of the colt, to withdraw him from the sale. He will not be offered for private sale and Pencarrow now look forward to racing him."The three Karaka offerings by Redoute's Choice are all mouth-watering commodities with his first lot to sell, Lot 84, a filly from the Marscay mare Donna Dior which has a whole pedigree page of black type, relating to the Catbird family.The second is Lot 110, a filly from the Rory's Jester mare Fatina, which already has produced two foals to race and both are winners.The third offering comes up on Tuesday - Lot 299 - which is a colt from dual group 1-winning mare Popsy, a daughter of Sir Tristram. Popsy was a dyed-in-the-wool staying mare and has had seven foals to race, six of them winners. Gai Waterhouse will be making a return to Karaka after missing the past two years. Star Thoroughbreds' Denise Martin will accompany Waterhouse and she believes the progeny of Pins and O'Reilly will be in demand."Both stallions experienced tremendous Melbourne Cup carnivals and have been providing winners week-in and week-out in NZ and Australia," Martin said. "They are likely types to be added to Star Thoroughbreds."John Hawkes will also be at Karaka, with his son Wayne leaving a few days earlier to get a shortlist for the now Rosehill-based trainer to inspect. NUMBERS UP: Yearling buyers are facing up to a smorgasbord this year and William Inglis issued a recent media release for its April sales which puts them right at the forefront.As mentioned, Inglis has catalogued 80 yearlings by Redoute's Choice and it has also announced there will be 64 yearlings by Encosta De Lago in the sale.That's 144 yearlings by two superstars which will make up almost 25 per cent of the entire catalogue!And how about 54 yearlings by first-season Coolmore stallion Fastnet Rock, Danehill's great sprinting son whose yearlings sell for the first time this year.Exceed And Excel is represented by 41 lots, one more than Rock Of Gibraltar, whose L'On Vite colt last year equalled the Australian yearling record when knocked down to Waterhouse for $3 million.Flying Spur has 32, Zabeel 25, Lonhro 22, Elusive Quality 21 and freshman sire Al Maher has 20. Fusaichi Pegasus, Anabaa and Danehill Dancer all have 13 lots and Elvstroem 12. SOUTHERN POWER: The keeper of the Australian Stud Book, Michael Ford, released statistics this week relating to the number of mares covered by the leading stallions.To date, 23,305 mares have recorded coverings by 679 stallions, a decrease of 13 per cent on last year's 26,800 coverings. "[But] this is a remarkable response to the EI disaster which the industry expected would wipe 15 per cent off last year's coverings," Ford said.Ford expected the gap to be narrowed to 10 per cent after late lodgments and paddock services were received later in the season.Queensland and NSW were hardest hit by the equine influenza and Ford expects NSW would probably end up 13 per cent behind and Queensland 17 per cent behind.Some of the numbers for the top stallions were quite extraordinary, with Bel Esprit and Fastnet Rock breaking the Australian record, eclipsing the mark set by Encosta De Lago of 231.Bel Esprit covered 265 mares at Eliza Park while Fastnet Rock had 256 partners. Next in line were Elvstroem (222), Dash For Cash (221), Gonski (205), God's Own (204), Stratum (197), Encosta De Lago, Rock Of Gibraltar (193) and Untouchable (190).Five of the top six stallions stood in Victoria compared with last year when the first eight were based in the Hunter Valley.Other stallions with high covering numbers were Redoute's Choice, which served 162 mares, Commands (154), Fusaichi Pegasus (151), Keep The Faith (145) and Holy Roman Emperor (131), while Elusive Quality covered 99 mares. VIENNESE WALTZ: Darley Australia, which owns three of the busiest stallions of 2007 in Elusive Quality, Gonski and Untouchable, produced a Golden Slipper aspirant at Sandown on Wednesday with the win by Snitzel's little sister, Viennese.The winner, by Redoute's Choice from Snippets' Lass, was a $1.4 million buy by John Ferguson at the 2007 Magic Million Sales. She ran up to her early barrier trial form to improve on a first-up sixth by winning comfortably.The runner-up Fly Higher (Lonhro x Betrille) also caught the eye at her debut to give Lee Freedman the quinella and she, too, was another MM purchase, bought by Keith Biggs for $380,000. FABRE SPLIT: The Aga Khan, France's leading owner last year with total winnings of almost EUR3.5 million ($5.89m), has split with his major trainer Andre Fabre due to an "operational disagreement". The Aga Khan's stables race about 175 horses a year and his horses will be redistributed to other French trainers. RACING ON: What a year it has been for US three-year-old Curlin, which this week was voted 2007 horse of the year and champion three-year-old male. Twelve months ago Curlin was yet to win a race but under the guidance of trainer Steve Asmussen he went on to amass earnings of $US5,102,800 ($5,925,152) from six wins, a second and two thirds.Curlin will continue racing as a four-year-old rather than being retired to stud.johnhollysenior@yahoo.com.au
© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald
