Astern to Shuttle to Kentucky

Tara Madgwick - Saturday October 7
Following in the footsteps of Medaglia D'Oro's Golden Slipper winning son Vancouver, who shuttled to Kentucky this year for Coolmore, Golden Rose winner Astern is also set to shuttle to North America for Darley.

Astern , will stand at Jonabell Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, for the 2018 breeding season.He is currently standing his first southern hemisphere season as a Darley stallion at Kelvinside Farm in New South Wales at a fee of $38,500.

Astern

Astern

Astern is rated the best ever winner of the G1 Golden Rose, Australia's top seven-furlong race for three-year-olds, and the Australian equivalent of Saratoga's G1 Allen Jerkens.

During his juvenile campaign, he broke his maiden on debut and captured the G2 Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill and the G3 Kindergarten Stakes at Randwick. Astern returned in brilliant form at three to land both the G2 Run To The Rose and the aforementioned G1 Golden Rose at Rosehill. He also ran solid seconds in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington and the G2 Roman Consul at Randwick.

Darren Fox, Darley's Sales Manager in America, said: "I just returned from seeing Astern in Australia, and I was blown away by his tremendous physique. I couldn't be more excited to get him to Kentucky. Medaglia d'Oro has been such an important stallion for us in both hemispheres, and as his best son, Astern has all the credentials to follow in his father's footsteps."

Medaglia d'Oro is having arguably his best year ever at stud and with five G1 winners, tops any other stallion standing in North America. In addition to Songbird, Dickinson and New Money Honey, two-year-old colt Bolt d'Oro and three-year-old filly Elate each recorded their second victories at the highest level this past weekend in Santa Anita's FrontRunner Stakes and Belmont's Beldame Invitational respectively.

Astern, whose dam is by top international sire Exceed And Excel , received an exciting pedigree update last weekend when his half-sisterAlizee( Sepoy ) recorded a scintillating win the G1 Flight Stakes at Randwick.

Astern retired with five wins from nine starts and earnings of AUS$1,179,550. His 126 Timeform rating makes him Medaglia d'Oro's top-rated son in either hemisphere.

Astern will breed a limited book of 120 mares at Jonabell in 2018 for a fee of $15,000 stands and nurses.




More Reading...
Juvenile Trial Watch – Canterbury
There were a whopping 10 heats won by juveniles at the Canterbury trials on Monday morning that included some interesting unraced youngsters by Zoustar, Zousain and Trapeze Artist, plus a good looking youngster that may see the benefit of gelding.
Sires With Winners - Sunday June 22
Here is the full list of 76 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Waikato Stud Weanling Draft Showcases Super Stallions
After a phenomenal few months for Waikato Stud’s stallion roster, the world-renowned nursery will offer six select progeny of those high-flying sires at this week’s NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka.
One to Watch – Scone
Kris Lees often sends a talented horse to the country to cast off maiden status and a two year-old Exceedance gelding did just that on debut at Scone on Monday.
Bonny Grey Mare Wins G3 Strickland
Last December at Ascot, popular grey mare Admiration Express (My Admiration) nearly caused the upset result of the year when she charged home at odds of 100/1 in the G1 Northerly Stakes for second behind Victorian raider Light Infantry Man.
One to Watch – Cranbourne
Second in the Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate last year to Tycoon Star, this Cosmic Force colt made light work of a maiden at Cranbourne on Sunday when bolting away to win as he pleased.
Aussie Bred HK G3 Double
A pair of Group III races were run at Sha Tin on Sunday with victory in the two last stakes races of the HK season both going to Aussie bred geldings Beauty Joy and Copartner Prance, who is a half-brother to Aquis based sire Kobayashi.
Highview Makes Welcome Return to Weanling Sale
Many of the vendors at this month’s NZB National Weanling Sale are familiar faces who are renowned for their quality drafts at this sale every year, but the 2025 edition also sees an old friend being welcomed back to the fold.
Countdown to NZB’s 2025 Weanling Sale
The countdown to NZB’s 2025 National Weanling Sale is underway, with a compact yet quality catalogue of 134 youngsters, plus 10 supplementary lots, selling this Thursday 26 June at Karaka. 
One to Watch Wins Again!
It might be winter and all eyes may have been on Royal Ascot this week, but there was a winner at Flemington on Saturday that will have caught the eye of anyone with half an interest towards spring racing and emerging talent.