Global success continues for Arrowfield stallions
Shalaa has made a strong start to his stud career with his first European 2YOs and his first Australian yearlings-now-2YOs. (PHOTO: Bronwen Healy)
With the shortest day of the Southern Hemisphere year behind us and only 38 days until the new season begins, perhaps Arrowfield’s stallions & graduates will stop generating fresh news so we can catch our breath and enjoy reviewing the many highlights of season 2019/20.
No chance…as global results from recent days make abundantly clear:
There’s no better time or place for a young European sire to post his first Group performer than Royal Ascot, and that’s exactly what Shalaa did when Al Shaqab Racing’s colt SAEIQA ran third in Saturday’s Royal Ascot Coventry S. G2 – two days after his second winner, SHALAALAA at Fairyhouse in Ireland and 16 days after his first winner CHERIE AMOUR in France. Shalaa’s first Australian-bred 2YOs race next season.
Dundeel has taken his career tally of 2YO winners to 16 with a pair of smart debutants. His daughter LAND AHOY made a big impression on Monday when she bested older horses to score by 3 lengths on debut at Scone. From a mare by Danehill Dancer, Land Ahoy is a home-bred for Sir Owen Glenn and looks like a lovely Classic prospect in the making. Arrowfield Magic Millions graduate FICHEUR, out of the stakes-winning Redoute’s Choice mare Opportunity, produced a strong run from the back of the field to win for Paul Perry at Newcastle on Saturday.
Dundeel’s 5 stakeswinners this season are headed by Group 1 Guineas winners CASTELVECCHIO & SUPER SETH, both now at stud.
Real Impact, already sire of a 3YO Group 1 winner in Japan, notched up his first Australian stakes performer when his first winner, the Paul Messara-trained 2YO OUTBURST progressed to nab third in Saturday’s Phoenix S. LR at Doomben. Like all of Arrowfield’s Japanese stallions, Real Impact stays home this year, but his progeny can be expected to develop considerably beyond their 2YO season, and his place on the roster remains open. His third-crop Australian yearlings will sell in 2021.
Team Valor & Arrowfield, who shared Animal Kingdom’s 2013 Dubai World Cup victory, are both connected with his first US Grade 1 winner OLEKSANDRA, winner of Saturday’s Belmont Jaipur S. G1. Bred & raced by Team Valor, Oleksandra (out of the Group-winning South African sprinter Alexandra Rose) joins a distinguished group of elite performers born and/or raised at Arrowfield, but not bred or sold by us, including Australian Horses of the Year MAKYBE DIVA & LANKAN RUPEE.
Sire of 12 stakeswinners from his US & Australian crops, Animal Kingdom is now at stud in Japan. His final Australian progeny will be 2YOs next season.
It’s been a vintage season for the now-retired Not A Single Doubt who registered the 10th winner from his 2017 crop when 2YO filly INSTANT CELEBRITY won on debut for Phillip Stokes at Morphettville.
He nearly added a new stakeswinner as well when Arrowfield Inglis Classic graduate PERFECT MATCH was a close second in the Premier Cup G3 at Sha Tin on Sunday. The Danny Shum-trained 4YO is the 20th stakes performer from Arrowfield’s Class of 2017, a stellar cohort headed by Group 1 winners ATYAAB, ESTIJAAB, MAID OF HEAVEN & THE AUTUMN SUN.
Not A Single Doubt, whose last foals will arrive this Spring, is on track to finish 4th on the Australian General Sires’ Premiership and complete an Arrowfield quinella with Snitzel on the 2YO Sires’ table.
Written Tycoon has also had a tremendous year, with 8 SW including Group 1 winners PIPPIE & TYZONE, more than $11 million worldwide earnings and a likely top 10 finish on the domestic General Sires’ Premiership. His five weekend winners were headed by 5YO MISTER MOGUL (ex Goldberg by Mr Prospector’s son Geiger Counter) who collected his 6th win for Henry Dwyer over 1000m at Flemington.
Snitzel’s quest for his fourth consecutive Australian General Sires’ Premiership & third 2YO Sires’ title continues with 18 wins and more than $650,000 prizemoney so far this month. Geoff & Mary Grimish’s home-bred colt SIXGUN took Snitzel’s career tally of 2YO winners to a remarkable 247 with a strong debut win at Canterbury on 10 June. Only Snitzel’s larger 2013 & 2014 crops have produced more than the 26 2YO winners, including stakeswinners AWAY GAME, LETZBEGLAM, MACROURA & WILD RULER, that have so far emerged from his 2017 crop.
