Stunning first foals stamped by Beneteau

Stunning first foals stamped by Beneteau

Beneteau’s first foals are creating a stir of the best kind as they arrive this spring with so much of their brilliant Dad’s look about them. 

Pictured: Beneteau parades with his groom Adam Shankley at an Arrowfield stallion parade last month. (PHOTO: Bronwen Healy)

Since his first foal, a perky filly from the Elvstroem mare Overblik, was born on 3 August at Arrowfield, we have been receiving regular reports from other breeders & farms about their very nice Beneteau babies.

As Arrowfield’s Bloodstock Manager Jon Freyer says, “Because Beneteau was born and bred at Arrowfield, we know him particularly well, so the athleticism and good looks we’re seeing in all his foals are instantly familiar to us.

“His first foals are very much in his mould, well-muscled and strong, with his presence, colour and markings.”

Beneteau’s handsome physique attracted a $1 million bid at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and he didn’t take long to back up his style with the substance of top-class racing performance.

Beneteau opened his three-month, six-start 2YO career with sparkling wins on debut at Randwick and in the Blue Diamond Prelude G3 at Caulfield.

He then started favourite in the Blue Diamond S. G1 and overcame a troubled run to finish a courageous third with only a neck from the winner, Star Witness (by Starcraft ). Only a paddock injury prevented Beneteau from progressing alongside Star Witness at three.

Beneteau’s high-class race record and Timeform rating of 121 reflects the quality of his pedigree. By Australia’s champion sire of sires Redoute’s Choice (10 stakes-siring sons already), from a stakes-placed sister to champion filly Alinghi, he brings plenty of firepower to the genetic battlefield.

At a fee of $11,000 inc. GST Beneteau is an affordable opportunity to kick-start a mare’s breeding career with an early runner, or revive the record of an older mare. Furthermore, foals conceived this year will be yearlings in the season Beneteau’s first crop 2YOs hit the tracks. Remember, he won his first start as a January 2YO.

Breeders need only consult the records of his champion sire, and his champion damsire Encosta de Lago, or the free links to G1 Stallion Match ,

eNIcks & TrueNicks for guidance on the female pedigrees likely to work with him.

Arrowfield’s expert pedigree analyst Peter Jenkins is also happy to advise and assist with mating plans. Peter suggests, for example, that mares by sons & grandsons of Sadler’s Wells, Bletchingly, Sir Tristram, Nijinsky & Snippets, or carrying additional lines of the Best In Show or Fanfreluche families offer very good genetic matches with Beneteau.

However, don’t overlook the possibilities of inbreeding to Danehill. We note that three of the outstanding foals carry 3 x 3 duplications of Australia’s legendary supersire.