Hussonet colt tops South African sale

Hussonet provided the top-priced lot at last weekend’s Emperors Palace Ready to Run Sale in South Africa when the Arrowfield-bred colt from Don’t Stop Talking (by Ahonoora) was sold for R1.3 million (approximately $A187,000) to Jehan Mulherbe’s Form Bloodstock.

Pictured: The Hussonet-Don’t Stop Talking colt as a yearling, photographed at Arrowfield before the 2010 Melbourne Premier Sale.

The vendor was Mick Goss’ Summerhill Stud, which made a healthy profit on the sale, after purchasing the colt for $40,000 from the Arrowfield draft at the 2010 Melbourne Premier Sale.

Don’t Stop Talking, bred in 1989 by Tasman Breeding Venture No. 1, is a half-sister to champion 2YO and Australian Horse of the Year Bounding Away, and has been a wonderful producer for Arrowfield, leaving six winners from six foals to race, including G3 winner Yammer (12 wins) and stakeswinner Blab (5 wins). “Talkie” as she is fondly known on the farm, has now been retired from breeding and is doing a great job as a nanny to the Stud’s weanlings.

Arrowfield has retained Don’t Stop Talking’s daughter Miss Dodwell (by Falbrav), who has visited Not a Single Doubt this season, and a 2YO colt by Redoute’s Choice from another daughter, Miss Babble (by Sunday Silence). Like her dam, Miss Babble was a favourite with Arrowfield staff but sadly fractured her pelvis and was euthanased in July 2009. In keeping with the family theme of talk-related names, the Redoute’s Choice colt has been named Blather.

Hussonet, Australia’s leading active sire of Group 1 winners, has had an excellent spring with five stakes performers, including Group 1-placed 3YOs Run For Levi (2nd, MRC Caulfield Guineas G1) and Heartsareforlove (2nd, MRC The Thousand Guineas G1). Hussonet is curently ninth on the Australian 3YO Sires’ list with earnings of $626,225.