Australian Studbook Red Flags – Quiet for Good Reason

Tara Madgwick - Tuesday July 4

The response to our ‘red flags’ story regarding factual data from the Australian Studbook has led to a follow up story about a quality stallion that is perceived to have gone quiet, but as we mentioned in the previous story it’s tough to fight a battle when you have very few bullets.

Cox Plate winning sire Shamus Award started his stud career at Widden Stud in the Hunter Valley before switching to Rosemont Stud in Victoria for the 2019 season.

Shamus Award, click for more info and a hypothetical mating.

In the time between his move being announced and the start of the 2019 breeding season things were already looking up for Shamus Award and as a result he covered 149 mares that first year down south after a career low of 84 mares the previous spring at Widden with both of those crops of foals conceived off an $11,000 fee.

What this means is that his current crop of three year-olds (50 of them) are from his smallest and worst credentialled book of mares and the two year-olds while greater in number (92) are also from lesser quality mares.

Shamus Award runs at 6.5% SW to runner and has sired 21 stakes-winners. He has impressively produced five Group I winners from his first four crops including multiple Group I winners Incentivise ($5.7million), Duais ($3million) and Mr Quickie ($2million) to go with El Patroness ($1.2million) and Media Award.

The reality is his next two crops were always going to find it hard to match those achievements based on numbers and quality although only five of his current season two year-olds have raced for one winner so they are a blank canvas for next season.

Advertisement

That one two year old winner for Shamus Award appeals as a real watch horse as she is Kiwi bred filly Quintessa, who was bought by David Ellis for $170,000 at Karaka Book 1 and won on debut for Mark Walker at Pukekohe in March at her only start. Pedigree says Oaks filly, so she’s one for the Black Book.

Based on the numbers and quality of what’s to come it’s hard not to imagine Shamus Award is getting ready for an upswing and breeders that book a mare this year may reap the benefits.

Shamus Award is priced this spring at $60,500.

Footnote: Shamus Award has sired 80 winners of over $6milion in prizemoney this season including four stakes-winners.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Second Winner For Ghaiyyath As Observer Scores By Five
Second on debut when just three parts of a length off the winner at Pakenham, the James Cummings’ trained Observer (Ghaiyyath) looked sensational as he made a mess of his rivals to score over 1400m in the Tile Importer Handicap on the Sandown Lakeside course.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday June 3
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Blueblood Import - American-Bred Jillaroo Records First Win
Purchased at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by Ciaron Maher, the now 4yo mare Jillaroo (USA) (Curlin) initially started her racing career in the United States but after an Australian debut second at Caulfield in early May, recorded her maiden victory at Doomben.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday June 4
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Frosty Girl impressive on debut
The Chris Waller-trained Frosty Girl made the perfect start to her career when coming from last to land the Asahi Super Dry Plate (1300m) on debut at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Pride of Jenni to Visit I Am Invincible - Match Made in Heaven
Three-time Champion Sire I Am Invincible has been confirmed as the first mating for reigning Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year Pride Of Jenni, who will head to the breeding barn this season following a phenomenal racing career.
Stakes Performed Zousain Filly Too Good At Doomben
Third in the Listed Calaway Stakes two starts back, lightly raced two-year-old Zousain filly Sweet Pretender produced the goods at Doomben, charging late to win the Mullins Lawyers QTIS Two-Year-Old Maiden Plate (1350m).
Impressive First Winner for St Marks Basilica
Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) was the 2021 European Horse of the Year and the son of Siyouni is on the board as a sire with his first winner after Rogue Supremacy scored an impressive debut victory.
Winx to Visit Too Darn Hot
World champion racehorse Winx is set for a new chapter in her stud career this spring with an announcement from her ownership group of Peter Tighe, Debbie Kepitis and Elizabeth Treweeke that Too Darn Hot (GB) is the chosen one.
Wootton Bassett 2YOs on the March
Wootton Bassett’s star Northern Hemisphere two year-old Albert Einstein has been ruled out of Royal Ascot with a sprained joint that will require a few weeks off, but the red hot sire added two more talented debut winning juvenile colts at The Curragh overnight.