Redoute's Choice receives Champion Sire award

Redoute’s Choice won the 2013/14 Australian Champion Sire award at the combined National & NSW Breeding Awards Dinner held at Scone Racecourse last Saturday evening.

Australian-bred stallions have now won the award for nine consecutive years, a sequence initiated by Redoute’s Choice in 2005/06. He claimed the title again in 2009/10.

The 2014 award was made special by his son Snitzel filling the runner-up position – the first father-and-son quinella in the 130-year history of the Australian Sires’ Championship.

Basil Nolan, President of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia, presented the trophy to Arrowfield Stud Chairman John Messara.

Mr Messara gave special thanks to vet Dr Wendy Perriam and groom Jarryd Stennett who accompanied Redoute’s Choice this year to France, where he served his second book of mares at HH The Aga Khan’s Haras de Bonneval.

Mr Messara also expressed pleasure at seeing the fulfilment of his vision of sending the best Australian-bred stallions to stand in Europe – a reversal of the traditional flow of stallion traffic. 

Five other breeding awards were presented during the evening, including the Australian Broodmare of the Year award, won by Estelle Collection, dam of this year’s world champion sprinter Lankan Rupee (by Redoute’s Choice).  Estelle Collection was owned by Muzaffar Yaseen’s Teeley Assets and based at Arrowfield until her sale to Coolmore in May.