Fastnet Sire Son Making an Impact

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday October 25
Berkley Stud stallion Highly Recommended has scored his first Group victory as a sire after Sumstreetsumwhere won the Group II James and Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m) at Te Rapa on Monday.

Highly Recommended now boasts a strike rate of 10 per cent stakes winners to runners and has some smart representatives on the track from his first crop.

Sumstreetsumwhere - Race ImagesThey include Hong Kong-bound dual stakes winner Waldorf, Gr.2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes (1200m) and Gr.1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) place getter Joyfilly and Listed Wanganui Guineas (1340m) runner-up Kirkland.

"It is good to get a new one because Waldorf has been sold to Hong Kong," Berkley Stud
co-owner Edwina Morris said.

"We were worried we were going to go out of the limelight, but it didn't take long for him to get another star shining."

Trained by Stephen Marsh, Sumstreetsumwhere is owned by some accomplished horsemen, including Cambridge trainer Ben Foote, breaker and Ready to Run Sale preparer Sam Beatson and Canterbury harness racing trainer Andrew Stuart.

The three-year-old gelding was bred by Stuart and Foote, who have established a breeding programme together.

"I got involved in the horse through a couple of good mates in Chris Allen and Ben Foote," Stuart said.

"They sent the mare (Sumstreetsumwhere's dam Street Siren) down to us and we ended up sending her to Highly Recommended because we had a relationship with Berkley Stud and it grew from there."

Originally earmarked for last year's New Zealand Ready to Run Sale, Sumstreetsumwhere has been continued with as a racing proposition after the sale entry was overlooked.

"He was forgotten and wasn't nominated," Stuart said. "But as it turned out it has worked out in our favour."

The three-year-old gelding is now likely to head down to Riccarton next month to target the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld 2000 New Zealand Guineas (1600m), but could be the subject of international interest.

"We are likely to head to Christchurch, but there have been a few parties show interest in the horse so we will just see what happens."

Highly RecommendedHighly Recommended has been well supported in his four seasons at stud and is well on the way to serving a full book of mares this season.

"He will serve over 100 mares, we have got a couple of new bookings today," Morris said.

"He has averaged 112 mares per season at stud, so he's been well supported right through, which is great and he will do about the same or a little more this season.

"We have been dropping off some of our lesser mares because he is getting such demand from outside mares.

"There are a lot more from the North Island this year, which is good to get that support."

Highly Recommended stands at Berkley Stud in Canterbury for a service fee of $5,000 + GST. – NZ Racing Desk.

Advertisment
More Reading...
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.
Sires With Winners - Thursday June 5
Here is the full list of 36 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.
Inglis Ready 2 Race Entries Open
Entries for the Inglis Ready2Race Sale – Australasia’s most progressive 2YO Sale – are now open.
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.
A Passion That Lasts a Lifetime
A passion for pedigrees and thoroughbreds is often one that lasts a lifetime and so it has been for one of the co-breeders of Bravery, who contacted me this week following our earlier and very well read story on current 2YO star Cool Archie.
North Pacific 2YO Ready to Win
Byerley Park trainer Steven Cole will head to Ellerslie with a quartet of runners on Saturday, and he is particularly upbeat about the chances of Pacific Breeze in the Network Visuals 1200.
Group Two Winner for Highly Recommended
Dismay at an outside draw turned to delight at Te Rapa where Sumstreetsumwhere emerged as a genuine chance to defend his stable’s classic crown.
Golden Guineas Chance for Highly Recommended 3YO
Waldorf is presented with a gilt-edged opportunity to add to his black type record on Wednesday.
Highly Recommended 3YO Delivers
Highly Recommended 3YO Jamie delivered on his trainer’s high expectations at Riccarton yesterday, winning at just his second raceday appearance by two lengths.