Mine and Refine – Why Storm Boy is in the Right Stable

Tara Madgwick - Tuesday September 3

Last week we ran a story highlighting the remarkable sireline that has been nurtured by Coolmore through four generations of stallions to produce their Epsom Derby winning Breeders’ Cup Classic contender City of Troy and in Australia Storm Boy is flying the sireline flag and he’s in the right stable if you believe history is a good form guide.

Read the first Mine and Refine story here.

Stallion

G1 Winner Trained or co-trained by Gai Waterhouse

G1 Wins

Hennessy 1993

Grand Armee

2003 Doncaster, 2004 George Main, Queen Elizabeth, Mackinnon, 2005 Chipping Norton, Queen Elizabeth, Ranvet

Johannesburg 1999

Once Were Wild

2010 Australian Oaks

Scat Daddy 2004

Con Te Partiro

2020 Coolmore Classic, Coolmore Legacy

Justify 2015

Can Storm Boy write his name here?

The first Australian progeny of Hennessy (USA) were born here in 1998 and that was back in the days when I was still working as a track work rider for Gai Waterhouse and we saw quiet a few of that first crop come into Tulloch Lodge and Bounding Away Lodge, which is where I rode out of.

Among them was a very hot chestnut filly called Allez France, who would become his first Australian stakes-winner when she won the Listed ATC Keith Mackay Handicap in the autumn, a race now worth a $1million and given Group status as the Group II Percy Sykes Stakes.

Grand Armee was a champion for Gai Waterhouse - image Steve Hart

Also in that first crop in the care of Waterhouse was a giant brown gelding that was physically and mentally the opposite of Allez France, but Grand Armee would go on to  become the best horse sired by Hennessy in the Southern Hemisphere.

Advertisement

Waterhouse also put the polish on Johannesburg’s dashing grey Oaks winning filly Once Were Wild, who raced in the John Singleton colours and was a modest $50,000 Magic Millions purchase that was bred by John Muir’s Milburn Creek in partnership.

Waterhouse is also the only Australian trainer to prepare a Group I winner by Scat Daddy, who did his Southern Hemisphere shuttling to South America.

Con Te Partiro (USA) was a two time G1 winner in Australia by Scat Daddy - image Steve Hart

Newgate Farm and partners sent quality US mare Con Te Partiro to Waterhouse and her training partner Adrian Bott in 2019 and their faith was rewarded when she won both the Group I ATC Coolmore Classic and Coolmore Legacy in 2020.

Nobody outside of Aidan O’Brien in Ireland knows more about what it takes to get the best out of horses from this sireline, which historically was often thought to be a hot one in terms of temperament, so the progress of Storm Boy and what he achieves this season is going to be a fascinating watch.

Storm Boy is on a quest for G1 glory this season - image Steve Hart

Advertisment
More Reading...
Blue Gum Farm Announce 2025 Fees
Leading Victorian stud, Blue Gum Farm, is pleased to announce its 2025 stallion roster and service fees, headlined by exciting young sire Sejardan, who will stand at an unchanged fee of $13,750.
Storm Boy Looking Good In Ireland
Coolmore Stud have released an interesting video through their social channels on Storm Boy as he builds up for a European campaign and no doubt a Royal Ascot tilt under Aidan O’Brien.
14 Mares Sell for $1million or More - $5.25m Zougotcha the Star
Triple Group One winner Zougotcha became the most expensive horse sold at auction in the Southern Hemisphere this year when she realised $5.25 million at today's Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
G1 Winner and Dam Sold for $1.5million and $900,000
It’s not often that you have a Group I winning filly offered at a sale and the very next day her mother is also presented for sale, but that is exactly what happened at the Gold Coast on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Magic Millions National Sale.
Storm Boy Given Coolmore Everest Slot
It’s been an intense 48 hours for Team Coolmore with two outstanding colts in the running to take their slot for this year’s $20million Everest and the decision has been announced this afternoon that Storm Boy will get the nod ahead of Switzerland.
Yulong Swoop on $1.3million Mare in Foal to Extreme Choice
There are five mares to be offered in foal to Extreme Choice at the Magic Millions National Sale on Wednesday and the first of them was Group placed Pins mare Finepoint (NZ).
Life Comes Full Circle for $1.4million Lazzago
Flying Capitalist filly Lazzago started life at Widden Stud and will be returning to the ‘Valley of Champions’ to continue her stud career after selling at the Magic Millions National Sale on Wednesday for $1.4million.
Second Time Lucky for Belclare - Sold for $700,000
It was a case of second time’s a charm for Belclare at Magic Millions’ Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale, with the dual Group One winner selling for A$700,000 on Tuesday.
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.
Go Racing Farewell Atishu
It’s the end of an era for New Zealand syndicator Go Racing after they parted company with their multiple Group One-winning mare Atishu on the Gold Coast on Tuesday.