Redoute’s Choice returns to Arrowfield
J. R. R. Tolkien’s book, and Peter Jackson’s movie “The Return of the King” did come to mind when the truck carrying champion sire Redoute’s Choice came down the driveway of Arrowfield Stud on Thursday afternoon.
The sentiment of Arrowfield staff was more directly expressed in the email sent by Operations Manager Sam Fairgray, “The big fella’s home!”
A little over seven months ago Redoute’s Choice left his palatial box and familiar paddock at Arrowfield for the first time in 13 years to travel to HH The Aga Khan’s Haras de Bonneval in Lower Normandy. This part of France has witnessed almost 1000 years of history, from William the Conqueror to Operation Overlord, that even the imaginations of Jackson and Tolkien might have struggled to invent.
After serving his first outstanding book of just over 100 mares at Haras de Bonneval, Redoute’s Choice now has the opportunity to make history in European racing and breeding as he has done in Australia over the past decade.
Mares confirmed in foal to Redoute’s Choice are headlined by the unbeaten Horse Of The Year and Arc de Triomphe heroine Zarkava, Group 1 winners Almerita, Alpine Rose, Rosanara, Sagawara, Shareta and Vadawina, and the dam of champion Goldikova.
Redoute’s Choice ended the 2012/13 season with 20 stakeswinners worldwide including his 22nd and 23rd Group 1 winners, two sons alongside him among Australia’s top 10 sires, his ninth consecutive year as the Easter Sale’s leading sire and the all-time Australasian record yearling price of $5 million for the Helsinge colt. His 2013 fee is $137,500 inc. GST.
Redoute’s Choice, Dubai World Cup winner Animal Kingdom and the rest of Arrowfield’s powerful nine-stallion roster will parade at the Stud’s August Stallion Open House, 22-25 August. All breeders, guests and other visitors are welcome – click here for session times.
