Only the best company for Showtime
The stunningly handsome Showtime has kept the best of company as a yearling, as a racehorse and now as a member of Arrowfield's stallion roster. (PHOTO: Georgina Lomax)
Horses, as much as people, can be judged by the company they keep.
Group-winning sprinter-miler Showtime scores highly no matter how that measure is applied.
He was an outstanding yearling in a vintage Arrowfield crop, knocked down to Team Hawkes at Magic Millions as one of three million-dollar Group winners sold by the Stud in 2016.
Now, he’s part of a world-class roster, headed by his own spectacular Champion Sire Snitzel.
Yes, at $11,000 inc. GST Showtime is the cheapest stallion on Arrowfield’s 2020 line-up, but Not A Single Doubt & Beneteau have already made that spot a launch-pad for brilliant success at stud.
Showtime raced in seriously good company for much of his three-season career. All but three of his 19 starts were at Group & Listed level, and he competed in six Group 1 races, five of them under weight-for-age conditions.
He started early, as an October 2YO in 2016, when he was second on debut at Randwick, before a second, a third and two fourths behind top-rated juveniles Pariah, She Will Reign, Gunnison, Invader & Doubt I’m Dreaming in three Group races and a Listed event.
Showtime earned his place in the Arrowfield stallion barn with a pair of heady Group 2 victories, in the 1600-metre Stutt Stakes as a 3YO, and the following Spring in the weight-for-age P.B. Lawrence Stakes over 1400m, where he out-gunned Hartnell and six other Group 1 winners with pace and tenacity.
However, his Autumn 2018 3YO campaign between those victories was arguably the best of his career, producing an impressive sequence of top-class efforts in championship company:
2nd, Expressway S. 1200m G2 – only 1.3 lengths from Champion Sprinter Trapeze Artist (who stands at 7 times Showtime’s fee).
3rd, Futurity S. 1400m G1 – caught in the last 100 metres by Brave Smash & Tosen Stardom.
2nd, Arrowfield 3YO Sprint 1200m G2 – to Catchy with I Am Excited, Booker, She Will Reign & Houtzen behind him.
3rd, All Aged S. 1400m G1 – less than 2 lengths from Trapeze Artist & once again beating Hartnell.
Showtime also keeps the excellent company of his enthusiastic & committed shareholders who supported his first season with 47 mares in 2019, in addition to the 22 mares sent by Arrowfield.
Among those shareholders are Greg & Barb Ingham who were part of his racing ownership and now have two mares in foal to him.
Barb explains why Showtime appealed to them. “The opportunity to buy into such a stunning individual with an impeccable pedigree was too good to pass on. He was a standout yearling and we always knew if he could do the job on the track, he’d be a stallion prospect.”
Greg selects a win and a Group 1 placing as Showtime’s best performances. “It’s hard for me to split his P.B. Lawrence win and his third in the Futurity Stakes, where he was somewhat unlucky. I admired his ability to run good sectional times at both ends of a race.”
Barb adds, “He’s let down into an awesome-looking stallion and that’s why we’re sending two of our best mares, by Lonhro & I Am Invincible, to him this Spring. We feel strongly that Showtime will make the grade as a sire.”
And finally, Showtime himself is the best of company, as Arrowfield’s Stallion Manager Joe Hickey explains.
“Showtime is very chilled and easy-going, with plenty of character and a few similar traits to his Dad. He’s just a very easy horse to get along with.
“And he’s an extremely good doer, so he has a few holiday pounds to lose before the Spring!”
