To put it mildly, Luke Ryland was over the moon to secure the services of promising stallion, Stratum Star, earlier this year.
Luke – who operates Ryland Thoroughbreds with partner Bec – was on the lookout for a suitable barnmate to share stud duties with the well credentialled, Spirit of Valor and take his boutique Victorian property to the next step.
“Frankly, I thought I’d used up all my luck getting Spirit of Valor (a Group 2 winning son of War Front) so was absolutely thrilled to pick up Stratum Star too,” Luke enthused.
“I loved him as a racehorse: that (Group 1) Rupert Clarke win was something else and then he came out at five and won the (Group 1) Kingston Town and the Peter Young at Group 2 level.
“He (Stratum Star) was also second in the Futurity, third in the Memsie and Toorak and placed in the Australian Guineas as well at three … all at Group 1 level. He was some racehorse and won nearly $2.5 million in stakes.
“Stratum Star is the best son of the ill-fated Stratum (by Redoute’s Choice), who produced 44 stakes winners including Streama, Takedown, Miss Wilson, Land of Plenty and Southern Lord – all Group 1 winners – and Crystal Lily, who won a Golden Slipper just like her dad.
“Stratum Star is a three quarter brother to multiple Group winning 2YO and sire, Prague, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets some very good juveniles, but most of the feedback I’m getting is that they’re maturing into very nice 3YOs and 4YOs.
“In Her Stride was Group placed earlier this year, Kandos Cosmos was Group placed over a trip at his last start and Betty Spaghetti was stakes placed across the pond a few months back.
“Edna won two in a row in Sydney at her last prep, Magic Chloe has just returned after winning in town at her last campaign, while I’m particularly excited about Enotis, who is with Team Hawkes. He’s only lightly raced but won at Kembla in July before coming out and beating a top field at Randwick last week.
“Really, heading into the season the flow of winners just couldn’t come at a better time.”
Stratum Star will stand his first season at Ryland Thoroughbreds at a fee of $3,300.
Meanwhile, Australians caught the tail end of Spirit of Valor’s racing career, but in Ireland he was a winner at two, was Group placed at Royal Ascot and won the Group 2 Minstrel Stakes at three and ran Merchant Navy to a length in the Group 2 Greelands at four.
Heading to the Maher/Eustace stable at five, he finished three quarters of a length behind Ball of Muscle in the Group 2 Schillaci, then was beaten a lip by Brave Smash in the Group 1 Manikato, leaving the likes of Kementari and Sunlight in his wake.
“Aside from his own race record, Spirit of Valor has an outstanding black type pedigree and his sire War Front has produced over 110 stakes winners,” Ryland adds. “One of his sire sons, The Factor, has 38 stakes winners world-wide – and is the sire of Bjorn Baker’s Group winning sprinter, Fun Fact, while another of his sons is Declaration of War (48 stakes winners) who has produced a Melbourne Cup winner (Vow And Declare), a Victoria Derby winner (Warning) and a Queensland Oaks winner (Winning Ways).
“I’m really looking forward to when Spirit of Valor’s first runners eventually reach the track.”
Like Stratum Star, Spirit of Valor will stand at a fee of $3,300.
