Skyhook Stud Deal Could Be Done Before the Slipper

Craig Tompson - Monday March 17

Skyhook’s managing owner, Matthew Ennis has revealed a stud deal could be done on the highly rated Golden Slipper contender before Saturday’s race when joining as our guest on the Tara Talks Racing podcast this week.

Skyhook. Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au

Joining the podcast after seeing his colt on Monday morning at the stables, Ennis, owner of the G1 Goldmine and Stallion Match businesses, told the story of his high rating for Skyhook as a yearling but opting out with the $575,000 sale price too high.

Afterwards however he liked what he saw enough on a visit to Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou’s stable that he took the majority share in the Written Tycoon colt.

A week out from the Slipper, with Skyhook brilliantly winning the Pago Pago Stakes and sitting on the third line of betting, it’s looking a lucrative buy, with all stud approaches being taken seriously.

When asked “Are the owners fielding much interest?”

Ennis confirmed “There are.”

“So I've spoken to most of them.

“Gerald and Sterling have spoken to the rest and yeah, certainly, if the offer was right, I think there's a deal to be done.

“This is the first time I'm putting myself out there and saying that. We haven't really announced anything like that as such.

“The thing is, a lot of the owners in our group are fairly wealthy individuals. Some have never raced a horse before.

“They just want to see the horse race and they want to see the horse run well.

“They're not breeders. They're racers.

“So I think, yeah, there's something to be done definitely.

“But it'd have to be the right deal.”

“I don't think it's something that needs to be overcomplicated.

“His upside is fairly straightforward. What he brings to the table is fairly straightforward. I think the conditions of the race put him in the best possible position to make him gettable and more importantly, he's winnable.

“So I think he's got a really good chance.

“And I wasn't sure until I saw him this morning.”

With the likes of Wodeton (Coolmore), Devil Night (Yulong) and North England (Newgate) already secured for stud futures, Skyhook and Rivellino are the obvious targets for a pre-race strike.

The all-important barrier draw will be held on Tuesday where Ennis will be parked in the hot seat, drawing the marble and hoping for somewhere between “one and six”.

Click here to listen to the podcast.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Quality Cambridge Stud draft in National Online Breeding Stock Sale
The need for Cambridge Stud to control the size of their star-studded broodmare band has opened up some special opportunities in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.
2026 Golden Slipper Entries – Sortable, Sale Mail – Find Out More
The new season is nearly upon us and that means all over the country a new crop of rising two year-olds are taking baby steps in the best stables in the land with the Australian Turf Club announcing this week they had received 1927 entries for the 2026 Golden Slipper, so who is in the race?
So You Think 3YO Wins $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus
Good placement from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable for progressive three year-old So You Think gelding Aloysius, who cast off maiden status at Hawkesbury on Thursday in a race that featured a lucrative Inglis Xtra maiden bonus.
Third Winner for Peltzer
Twin Hills Stud’s young sire Pelzter added a third winner to his tally with a debut victory at Canberra on Friday for the well named gelding I Show Speed.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Super Seth has had three G1 winners in Australia this season and John O’Shea and Tom Charlton have trained two of them, so when they produce a lightly raced maiden winner by this exciting young sire we want to know more.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
There were six heats for juveniles at Rosehill on Friday morning and the winners include unraced youngsters by Cool Aza Beel and I Am Invincible, plus a Farnan colt that tried his luck in Group races in the autumn and was far from disgraced.
Skyhook into Golden Slipper
Talented Written Tycoon colt Skyhook has been a big watch horse at Breednet since he won his first barrier trial at Rosehill on February 3 and has now earned a shot at the Golden Slipper with a bold front running win in the $250,000 Group III ATC Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Friday July 4
Here is the full list of 38 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
High-flying Pencarrow Stud offers well-bred mares in Online Breeding Stock Sale
The 2024-25 season has been one of the best ever for Pencarrow Stud, and some of the renowned bloodlines that have underpinned that success are now available for purchase in the 2025 National Online Breeding Stock Sale on Gavelhouse Plus.