Champion Sire Flying Spur withdrawn from service
Arrowfield Stud announced today that Champion Sire Flying Spur has been withdrawn from service.
The magnificent son of Danehill (USA) and Rolls (USA) has experienced a sudden and irreversible decline in fertility this season.
Pictured: Champion Sire Flying Spur, at Arrowfield where he has been based since 1997. (PHOTO: Bronwen Healy)
Arrowfield Chairman John Messara says, “Flying Spur is a very special horse for us, as we bred him, raced him in partnership and have been proud to stand him since 1997.
“He is one of the pillars upon which Arrowfield Stud has been built and his home will be here with us for the rest of his life.”
John Messara adds, “We are very grateful to the Flying Spur Syndicate, and the breeders, buyers, owners and trainers who have supported him over the past 17 years.
“However, with more than 250 current 2YOs, yearlings and foals, Flying Spur’s story is far from over and his sought-after broodmare daughters and emerging sire sons will ensure he appears in top-class pedigrees for years to come.”
Flying Spur was an outstanding racehorse, the winner of six races at two and three, including the STC Golden Slipper S. G1, VRC Australian Guineas G1 and AJC All Aged S. G1.
He began his stud career in 1996, then shuttled to Ireland for one season in 1997. He returned in the spring of that year to Arrowfield where he has been based ever since.
His first crop 2YOs appeared in 1999 and the 14 winners among them, including Group winners French Braids & Ponton Flyer, signalled his quality. Flying Spur ended the 1999-2000 season as Australia’s Champion First Season Sire, and progressed steadily towards the General & 2YO Sires’ Premierships which he won in 2007 with total prizemoney of $10.4 million. That was the year of Forensics (STC Golden Slipper S. G1), Sleek Chassis (MRC Blue Diamond S. G1), Magnus (AJC Galaxy H. G1), Mentality (AJC Royal Randwick Guineas G1) and 13 other stakes winners. He was also New Zealand’s Champion Sire of 2YOs in 2001, thanks to San Luis (Manawatu Sires’ Produce S. G1) and multiple Group winner Flying Babe.
To date Flying Spur has sired 86 stakes winners, 12 of them successful at Group 1 level. His most recent Group winners include Vintedge, Satin Shoes, Bliss Street and Full of Spirit, and last weekend his 2YO son Rockford was an eye-catching runner-up in the VRC Maribyrnong Trial S. LR.
Sale-ring results have been equally impressive. His 931 yearlings sold in Australia & New Zealand since 1999 have averaged $128,346, and 21 have fetched $500,000 or more.
Flying Spur is already the damsire of four Group 1 winners among 33 stakes winners, and his son Casino Prince was last season’s Champion First Season Sire in Australia with progeny including yesterday’s MRC Caulfield Guineas G1 winner All Too Hard.
