Freshman Sires at the 2008 Karaka Premier Sale
7 January 2008
This year the Karaka Premier Sale is the first to put the freshman sires of the season under the spotlight.
To assist this year's prospective buyers, the following is a summary of the standout selection of the 17 well-credentialled stallions represented at the Premier Sale by yearlings from their first southern hemisphere crops.
AL MAHER (AUS)
Danehill x Show Dancing, by Don't Say Halo
Stands At: Emirates Park Stud, NSW, Australia
Yearlings at KARAKA: Premier Sale = 4; Select Sale = 1
Out of a half-sister to Hurricane Sky, Umatilla and Shantha's Choice, dam of Redoute's Choice, Al Maher is an impressive sprinter/miler by super-sire Danehill. Trained by Gai Waterhouse he won five of 11 starts including the Group 1 VRC Australian Guineas (1600m), the Group 2 Gloaming Stakes at Rosehill and the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes at Flemington.
He is represented by 5 yearlings at Karaka 2008.
BACHELOR DUKE (USA)
Miswaki x Gossamer, by Seattle Slew
Stands At: The Oaks Stud, Cambridge, NZ
Yearlings at KARAKA: Premier Sale = 5; Select Sale = 21; Festival Sale = 2
Bachelor Duke descends from one of the most prolific sire-producing families in the world, responsible for champion sire Sadler's Wells, Nureyev and Fairy King. His dam Gossamer is a multiple stakes winning producer and his grand dam Lisaleen is a full sister to the world-class Nureyev. Campaigned in Europe, Bachelor Duke secured Group 1 glory in the Irish 2,000 Guineas as a three-year-old beating subsequent G.1 Irish Derby winner Grey Swallow and 2005 Cartier Older Horse of the year Azamour.
He is represented by 28 yearlings at Karaka 2008.
CHARGE FORWARD (AUS)
Red Ransom x Sydney's Dream, by Bletchingly
Stands At: Arrowfield Stud, NSW, Australia
Yearlings at KARAKA: Premier Sale = 2; Select Sale = 1
From a South African Group 1 winning mare, as a two-year-old the sprinting son of Red Ransom placed second in the Group 1 Golden Slipper, beaten a short neck by Dance Hero in 1m 8.6 to score a new race record. That year he won the Listed Breeder's Plate (1000m) and the G.2 Todman Slipper Trial (1200m) before going on to take the G.2 San Domenico (1000m) at Randwick and the G.1 AJC Galaxy Stakes (1100m) against older horses as a three-year-old. Crowned leading two-year-old colt of 2003/3004, Charge Forward scored a rating of 110 which was the highest ranking since 1997 above Choisir, Viscount, Fastnet Rock and Bel Esprit.
He is represented by 3 yearlings at Karaka 2008.
ELVSTROEM (AUS)
Danehill x Circles of Gold, by Marscay
Stands At: Blue Gum Farm, Vic, Australia
Yearlings at KARAKA: Premier Sale = 5; Select Sale = 3
Needing little introduction, Australian champion Elvstroem won 10 races, earning prizemoney of over A$5.7 million and clinching five Group 1 contests. Winning the G.1 CF Orr S, the G.1 Caulfield Cup, the G.1 Victoria Derby and the G.1 Underwood Stakes in Australia, the Tony Vasil-trained colt made history as the first horse to win both the Caulfield Cup and the Victoria Derby since Manfred in 1926. Elvstroem also travelled to Dubai as a four-year-old where he took home the G.1 Dubai Duty Free S. at Nad al Sheba. He's out of classic-winning mare Circles of Gold, winner of the G.1 Australian Oaks and a half-sister to G.2 Blamey S. winner Gold Wells.
He is represented by 8 yearlings at Karaka 2008.
FASTNET ROCK (AUS)
Danehill x Piccadilly Circus, by Royal Academy
Stands At: Coolmore, NSW, Australia
Yearlings at KARAKA: Premier Sale = 12
The Champion 3YO Colt and Champion Sprinter of 2004/2005, Fastnet Rock rounded out 2005 with the highest Timeform Rating of any Australian-trained horse that year at 127. The sturdy son of Danehill was a high-class two-two-year-old clinching third in the G.1 Sires' Produce before running fourth behind Dance Hero, Charge Forward and Alinghi in the G.1 Golden Slipper. As a three-year-old, he registered six wins out of a total of 12 starts including victory against the older horses in the G.1 Lightning Stakes at Flemington and wins in the G.1 Oakleigh Plate and the G.2 Up and Coming Stakes, winning a total of six Group races.
He is represented by 12 yearlings at Karaka 2008.
FOOTSTEPSINTHESAND (GB)
Giant's Causeway x Glatisant, by Rainbow Quest
Stands At: Coolmore, NSW, Australia
Yearlings at KARAKA: Premier Sale = 3; Select Sale = 6
A son of the tough performer Giant's Causeway, Footstepsinthesand finished his race career unbeaten in three starts. After breaking his maiden first time out in Naas, Ireland, he went on to take the G.3 Killavullan S. at Leopardstown. As a three-year-old, the Aiden O'Brien-trained colt ran just once, winning the G.1 English 2,000 Guineas seeing off competition from Dubawi and Oratorio.
He is represented by 9 yearlings at Karaka 2008.
HIGH CHAPARRAL (IRE)
Sadler's Wells x Kasora, by Darshaan
Stands At: Windsor Park Stud, Cambridge
Yearlings at KARAKA: Premier Sale = 27; Select Sale = 27
The son of Irish sensation Sadlers' Wells, was an outstanding racehorse ending his career with a total of six Group 1 wins over 1600m-2000m. He twice won the prestigious Eclipse Award voted Champion Male Turf Horse and was also rated Champion 3YO in Europe in 2002 and Champion Turf Horse in the USA in 2002 and 2003. He was the winner of 10 of his 13 starts including two Derbies, two Breeders' Cup Turf races, the Racing Post Trophy and the Irish Champion S. and still remains the only horse to have won the English Derby and the Breeders' Cup Turf in the same season.
With the third largest draft of this year's freshman sires, he is represented by a total of 54 yearlings at Karaka 2008.
JOHAR (USA)
Gone West x Windsharp, by Lear Fan
Stands At: Highview Stud, Ohaupo, NZ
Yearlings at KARAKA: Premier Sale = 23; Select Sale = 20
The handsome son of proven sire of sires Gone West is out of Champion US mare and dual Group 1 winner Windsharp. Himself a dual Group 1 winner, Johar won the Hollywood Derby and dead-heated with High Chaparral in the Breeders' Cup Turf. He made 16 starts over his two year career in both the US and Japan recording earnings of US$1,494,496 and equalling the international classification of 127 achieved by both Mineshaft and Falbrav. He set two track records with his victories in the G.2 San Marcos H. and the G.2 Oak Tree Derby and was an Eclipse Award finalist in 2003.
He is represented by 43 yearlings at Karaka 2008.
KING'S CHAPEL (AUS)
King of Kings x Lower Chapel, by Sharpo
Stands At: Windsor Park Stud, Cambridge, NZ
Yearlings at KARAKA: Premier Sale = 3; Select Sale = 23; Festival Sale = 9
King's Chapel is out of a half-sister to Italian Group winner Leap for Joy and to G.2 Prix Maurice du Gheest winner and sire College Chapel. The winner of 10 of 23 starts over 1100-1600m including four Group 1 events, he was crowned NZ Horse of the Year and Champion Sprinter of 2004. A Listed winner at two he went on to win the New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas as a three-year-old, and ran an impressive 1.06.79 to win the G.1 Telegraph H.
He is represented by 35 yearlings at Karaka 2008.
NIELLO (AUS)
Octagonal x Shadea, by Straight Strike
Stands At: Chatswood Stud, Vic, Australia
Yearlings at KARAKA: Premier Sale = 1; Select Sale = 1; Festival Sale = 1
A full brother to Australian Horse of the Year and Champion three-year-old Lonhro, Niello is out of Group 3 winner Shadea, a half sister to AJC Oaks winner Mahaya. As a son of Horse of the Year Octagonal, he possessed good stamina evident in his gruelling defeat of Grand Zulu in the G.1 Rosehill Guineas over 2000m. Trained by John Hawkes, the Woodlands Stud homebred won two further Group 1 contests in the Spring Champion S. at Randwick over 2000m and the Canterbury Guineas over 1900m.
His sole Premier Sale entry is a half-brother to three winners from three to race out of stakeswinning Thatching mare Panga (Lot 286).
NOT A SINGLE DOUBT (AUS)
Redoute's Choice x Singles Bar, by Rory's Jester
Stands At: Arrowfield Stud, NSW, Australia
Yearlings at KARAKA: Premier Sale = 1; Select Sale = 4
The record-breaking juvenile sprinter streaked home in 56.21s to set the new track record in the Strawberry Hill Slipper as a two-year-old. The impressive juvenile won two Listed events in his debut year and placed fourth in the G.2 Todman Slipper Trial. He also placed second in the G3 Autumn Stakes at Caulfield and in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic to new record setter Dance Hero. The son of Australian sire sensation, Redoute's Choice is out of a half sister to proven sire Snippets.
He is represented by 5 yearlings at Karaka 2008.
ONE COOL CAT (USA)
Storm Cat x Tacha, by Mr Prospector
Stands At: Cambridge Stud, Cambridge, NZ
Yearlings at KARAKA: Premier Sale = 31; Select Sale = 24; Festival Sale = 1
The highest priced yearling of 2002 at $3.1 million from the Keeneland September Sale, One Cool Cat had an explosive but short-lived racing career cut short by a fracture suffered during training at Ballydoyle. During his short time on the track he managed to gain honours as Champion 2YO Colt in Europe in 2003 achieving a Timeform rating of 123 and earnings of €477,324. As a two-year-old he stole the G.1 Curragh Phoenix S. from favourite Three Valleys and also won the G.1 National S. in impressive style beating Wathab and Pearl of Love. He lost only one of five starts at two before going on to take the G.3 Curragh Phoenix Sprint as a three-year-old. One Cool Cat hails from an impressive line of top performing racehorses which include dual Group 1-winning sprinter Aragorn.
With the second largest draft of this year's freshman sires, he is represented by 56 yearlings at Karaka 2008.
REFUSE TO BEND (IRE)
Sadler's Wells x Market Slide, by Gulch
Stands At: Darley, NSW, Australia
Yearlings at KARAKA: Premier Sale = 3; Select Sale = 1
A half-brother to Melbourne Cup winner Media Puzzle, Refuse to Bend is a son of Irish Champion Sire Sadler's Wells out of a Group-placed Gulch mare. An unbeaten two-year-old with a win in the G.1 National S, Refuse to Bend trained on to prove himself in the G.1 2,000 Guineas to be voted Champion 3YO Miler in Ireland. He was then purchased by Sheikh Mohammed and as a four-year-old went on to win the G.1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and the G.1 Eclipse Stakes before being retired to Darley's Irish base at Kildangan Stud. Yearlings by Refuse to Bend sold at the Goffs Million Sale in September averaged €111,071 from a stud fee of €20,000.
He is represented by 4 yearlings at Karaka 2008.
SAVABEEL (AUS)
Zabeel x Savannah Success, by Success Express
Stands At: Waikato Stud, Matamata, NZ
Yearlings at KARAKA: Premier Sale = 40; Select Sale = 17
Group 1 Cox Plate winner Savabeel saw off challenges from ten other Group 1 winners to become only the second three-year-old in the last 20 years to win the highly coveted Australian classic. Ranked the best three-year-old performer of 2005, Savabeel was the highest IFHA rated 3YO in Australia in 2004/2005, ahead of Fastnet Rock, Charge Forward and Alinghi. The son of Zabeel registered earnings of A$2,760,460 with a win in the G.1 Spring Champion S. and second placings in the G.1 Victoria Derby and the G.1 CF Orr Stakes.
Represented by the largest draft of all the freshman sires, Savabeels has 57 entries at Karaka 2008.
SCAREDEE CAT (NZ)
Tale of the Cat x Last Lady, by Centaine
Stands At: Waikato Stud, Matamata, NZ
Yearlings at KARAKA: Premier Sale = 2; Select Sale = 7; Festival Sale = 9
The son of Storm Cat's brilliant son Tale of the Cat competed in 17 stakes races over his three year career with earnings of A$452,000. At two he won the first two-year-old stakes race of the season, the Listed Debutant Stakes in Melbourne before placing third in the G.3 Blue Diamond Prelude. As a three-year-old, the impressive sprinter took the G.2 Ascot Vale Stakes and placed in the G.1 Lightning Stakes, Stradbroke Handicap and the MRC Dubai Racing Club Cup Invitation Stakes. He recorded the second fastest time in history when blazing home in 1.08.8 in the Ascot Vale Stakes ahead of Lago Delight and Dilly Dally.
He is represented by 20 yearlings at Karaka 2008.
SHAMARDAL (USA)
Giant's Causeway x Helsinki, by Machiavellian
Stands At: Darley, NSW, Australia
Yearlings at KARAKA: Premier Sale = 2; Select Sale = 2
Champion European Juvenile of 2004, Shamardal won six of his seven career starts with wins in the G.2 Veuve Clicquot Vintage S. at Goodwood and the G.1 Dewhurst S. at Newmarket at two. After transferring to the Godolphin Stable from trainer Mark Johnston's Yorkshire base, Shamardal went on to win three out of his four starts as a three-year-old with victories in the G.1 St James' Palace Stakes, the G.1 Longchamps Poule d'Essai des Poulins, and the G.1 Chantilly Prix de Jockey Club. Shamardal collected earnings of £1,099,290 and rounded out his racing career with a Timeform rating of 129.
He is represented by 4 yearlings at Karaka 2008.
TIGER HILL (IRE)
Danehill x The Filly, by Appiani
Stands At: Darley, NSW, Australia
Yearlings at KARAKA: Premier Sale = 3; Select Sale = 2
German-bred Tiger Hill was Champion 3YO and Champion Older Horse in Germany with a Timeform Rating of 127. An outstanding racehorse, Tiger Hill won ten of 17 career starts including three Group 1 events. He placed third in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe behind Sagamix and showed his durability in training on to his five-year-old year season notching up winnings of €1,529,407. He has already established himself as a promising young sire in Europe with 100 winners to date including 18 stakes winners. He is the sire of two Group 1 winners in Preis der Diane winner Iota and Premio Gran Criterium winner Konigstiger.
He is represented by 5 yearlings at Karaka 2008.