Arrowfield graduates continue successful run
Arrowfield’s reputation for producing top line horses continues with a number of the farm’s sales graduates performing at the highest levels in recent weeks.
On Saturday it was the Arrowfield bred Redoute’s Choice duo of SHAAHEQ (ex Damaschino,) and BENETEAU (ex Slice of Paradise) who finished second and third respectively in Victoria’s richest 2YO race – the $1m MRC G1 Arrowfield Stud Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m). This followed Beneteau’s impressive win a fortnight earlier in the G3 Arrowfield Stud Blue Diamond Prelude (in class record time), and Shaaheq’s treble of second placings in the Listed MRC Arrowfield Stud Blue Diamond Preview, Listed MRC Merson Cooper Stakes and Listed AGL Energy Stakes.
The success of these juveniles came swiftly on the heels of the win of another Arrowfield product: 4YO gelding HUXSSEN (Hussonet ex Musical Tones) taking out last Wednesday’s Listed Mornington RC Hareeba Stakes.
Four days earlier it was SWEEPSTAKING (Not A Single Doubt ex Tennessee Sunrise) who finished third in the G2 AJC Light Fingers Stakes, just a fortnight after another Not A Single Doubt 3YO – ABSOLUTE FAITH (Not a Single Doubt ext Tender Saint (USA)) added a third in the G3 VRC The Vanity.
Their results cap off a great start to the year by Arrowfield bred progeny: 3YO Melbourne Premier graduate EXCUSE MY FRENCH (French Deputy ex Trois Couleurs) being the first black type performer for 2010 when he secured January’s Listed Hobart Guineas (2100m) and Listed Tasmanian Guineas (1600m) before finishing 4th in the G3 Tasmanian Derby.
These horses add their names to a burgeoning list who have earned black type this season and who were bred, raised and sold by Arrowfield or Bellerive Studs: G2 AJC Breeders Classic winner ALVERTA (Flying Spur ex Grilse (USA)), G2 AJC Premiere Stakes winner MENTALITY (Flying Spur ex Synaesthesia (USA)), HKJC G3 winner INSPIRATION (Flying Spur ex La Bamba), and the stakes placed quintet of MISS DARCEY (Hussonet ex Miss Bussell), BAWAARDI (Redoute’s Choice ex Stella Artois), COME HITHER (Redoute’s Choice ex Hanky Panky), RED HOT CHOICE (Redoute’s Choice ex Red Hot Mama) and STARTSMEUP (Danzero ex Bluevien).
Of course, Golden Slipper winners of recent times MISS FINLAND, FORENSICS, BELLE DU JOUR, CATBIRD, FLYING SPUR and DANZERO were also all raised and sold by Arrowfield.
It has not just been the Arrowfield graduates on a roll. The Arrowfield first season sire duo of SNITZEL and STARCRAFT have gone head to head on this season’s Freshman Sires Table. Starcraft edged ahead of Snitzel with the win on Saturday of STAR WITNESS in the G1 Arrowfield Blue Diamond Stakes both having winners of in excess of $700,000 for the season thus far. Not to be outdone, Redoute’s Choice is currently Champion General Sire 2009/2010 by number of individual stakeswinners (9).
This year’s Melbourne Premier Drafts for Arrowfield and Bellerive Studs will be available for inspection at the Oaklands Complex in Melbourne from Wednesday 24 February. In 2006 Arrowfield sold WEEKEND HUSSLER at this same sale for just $80,000. He is now the winner of 7 Group 1 races of over $3 million in prizemoney. This year’s drafts include 3 yearlings by Starcraft – the same stallion responsible for Saturday’s G1 Blue Diamond winner STAR WITNESS, and 9 yearlings by Snitzel, sire of the brilliant CHANCE BYE and INTERTIDAL.
