Armidale Stud is proud to announce the addition of three-year-old colt Bodyguard to its stallion roster.
The dual two-year-old Group-winning son of Champion Sire I Am Invincible will stand for a fee of $8,800 (incl. GST), joining leading sires Needs Further and Alpine Eagle at the historic Tasmanian nursery.
A $1.6 million dollar yearling, Bodyguard turned heads early with an explosive two-length win on debut in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (1000m) at Flemington in October, defeating subsequent Group winner Dublin Down. He returned in the autumn to confirm his class in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m), showcasing a blistering turn of foot to put away a strong field.
Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, Bodyguard was lauded not only for his racetrack brilliance but also his physical presence, described by Peter Snowden as “the best-looking horse I have ever been associated with.”
By I Am Invincible, the sire of Group 1-producing stallions Hellbent and Brazen Beau, Bodyguard descends from one of the most precocious, speed-oriented pedigrees in the Australasian studbook. His dam Tumooh is a Fastnet Rock daughter of Golden Slipper-winning heroine Mossfun, who has already produced Group winner Dajraan.
Standing at 16hh, Bodyguard is a powerful and athletic individual with exceptional balance and presence — traits he is expected to pass on to his progeny.
Armidale Stud Principal David Whishaw said, “Bodyguard has been on our radar for 12 months or so, since he effortlessly won the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes.
“We were looking for a stallion to complement our existing roster and meet the demands of the current market, and Bodyguard fit the bill perfectly.
Breeders now have the opportunity to tap into one of the most influential speed families in modern Australian racing at exceptional value, further strengthening the quality on offer in Tasmania.
“We’re very passionate about the local breeding industry,” added Whishaw. “We’ve been acutely aware that the state has needed a new stallion, but we weren’t going to stand one until we found a horse that we genuinely believed in.
“Over the past few years we’ve had many stallions offered to us, but none have truly matched what we’ve been looking for until Bodyguard.
“He’s the perfect fit for us. He’s outstanding looking, he’s got a great mind and he was precocious and fast. Most importantly, his pedigree is one that will resonate with breeders across Australia.
“To have a stallion prospect that offers those early-running types with his granddam a Golden Slipper winner, and him winning that very first two-year-old stakes race along with the Blue Diamond Prelude for colts, he’s got what it takes to produce sharp, early runners.
“We hope this acts as a sign of confidence for local breeders that we’re investing not just in a new stallion, but in mares to go to him. Ultimately, we want to inject confidence into the local breeding industry.
Bodyguard was bred by Emirates Park, who have retained a stake in the colt and plan to support his early stud career with a significant number of mares.
Emirates Park General Manager Bryan Carlson commented: “He was a standout colt as a yearling and certainly had the ability on the track.
“We believe he has what it takes to make a stallion and will support him with some good mares this season.
“We’re excited to work with Armidale. They’ve got a good history of producing great stallions, and I think Bodyguard is a very exciting prospect for them and the Tasmanian industry.
“He’s landed in the right spot, and we look forward to supporting his burgeoning stud career.”
“We’ve been very deliberate in the stallions we bring to Tasmania,” Whishaw added. “With Needs Further and Alpine Eagle, we’ve proven you don’t need to stand in the Hunter Valley to produce quality racehorses and Bodyguard will complement our existing roster really well.
“With his impressive attributes, we believe he has the potential to make a lasting impact on the Australian racing industry and be a sire that really stamps his mark.
“His fee was set at $8,800 because we want to provide breeders with good bloodlines and great stallions at an accessible price. Every cost is going up in the industry and breeding numbers are declining, particularly here in Tasmania, and it’s getting harder to compete.
“We want to stick to our grassroots and provide world-class bloodlines at a price that delivers good value for the average breeder.”
For bookings and enquiries, please visit armidalestud.com.au or contact David or Rhiannon Whishaw directly.
