With less than a month to go for the current Australian racing season, the century club for stallions that have sired 100 winners since August 1 has expanded to include 14 stallions and there are two more knocking at the door and they represent amazing value.
Woodside Park Stud’s Shalaa (IRE) sits on 99 winners for the season and this former Arrowfield shuttler has had one of his best ever seasons.
His winners have come at a 50% winner to runner rate and they include five stakes-winners in Australia plus his Aussie bred Japanese stakes-winner Invincible Papa.
On the home front, his stakes-winners are headed by Group I MVRC Moir Stakes winner Mornington Glory, plus four more Group winners Recommendation, Welwal (GB), Jennilala and Eagle Nest, who sold as a broodmare prospect at Inglis Chairman’s Sale for $1million.
Shalaa stands at a fee of $19,800 this spring.
Vinery Stud’s Headwater is the cheapest sire on their roster, but has more than made his mark with 98 winners also coming at a seasonal strike rate of 50%.
He has sired two stakes-winners in London’s Image and Manhood, plus three more stakes horses which is pretty impressive for a sire you can go to for $6,600… that’s a lot of bang for buck.
One of his best performers this season has been progressive Joe Pride trained four year-old Storm the Ramparts, who has won three of his past four starts over the winter including a terrific win at Rosehill last Saturday carrying 62.5kg.
Storm the Ramparts has five wins and nine placings from 17 starts and has banked over $485,000, so he’s a horse most people would be proud to have bred or owned!