Another Star Mare Booked to Invader

Tara Madgwick - Monday May 14
Rob Crosby, who owns the dam of Group I MRC Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed has elected to send his prized mare Golden Eagle to Snitzel's Champion 2YO son Invader in 2018.

At stud, Golden Eagle, now rising 18, has produced seven winners from eight runners, with the 2011 Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed her most notable offspring.

The dam of Caulfield Cup winner Southern speed has been booked to InvaderSpeaking to Crosby last week, we asked him what the main factors in his decision were to send Golden Eagle to Aquis' first season sire Invader;

"Most of her matings to-date have been to middle-distance and staying type horses and with Zabeel mares reacting well to sprint bred stallions the Snitzel line is attractive to us, not to mention the fact that we really liked Invader when he was racing," Crosby revealed.

An outstanding winner of the Group I ATC Sires' Produce Stakes when beating Summer Passage and Trapeze Artist, Invader is the Champion 2YO Colt of his generation and the highest-ever rated 2YO by Champion Sire Snitzel.

Invader's form has been franked by the fact that Trapeze Artist, whom he beat twice at two at Randwick over 1200 and 1400m, has notched up three Group I victories this season in the ATC Golden Rose, the ATC T J Smith Stakes and the ATC All Aged Stakes.

It is Aquis policy not to cover more than 175 mares with any one stallion on their roster and it will come as no surprise to breeders to learn that Invader's book for 2018 is all but full as he has proved extremely popular with commercial breeders in the Hunter Valley with his introductory fee set at $27,500 (incl GST) with payment on live foal terms.

$1.5 million Snitzel colt from Go Indy GoAnother factor in Crosby's decision to send the dam of Southern Speed to Invader is the fact that Group I ATC Champagne Stakes winner Go Indy Go, who is out of a full-sister to Golden Eagle, had a yearling colt by Snitzel sell for $1.5million at this year's Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

The colt, purchased by Steve Morley Bloodstock was sold by Kitchwin Hills – a stud all too familiar with the success of the Snitzel/Zabeel cross having stood the ill-fated Time For War.

The Group II ATC Pago Pago Stakes and BRC Sires' Produce Stakes winner Time For War, the Group III MVRC Tesio Stakes winner Lubiton and the Group III MRC Caulfield Guineas Prelude winner Perast, are all bred on the same cross.

From just 30 runners to-date the Snitzel/Zabeel cross has yielded 10% Stakes winners to runners and looks to be one of the most exciting nicks to emerge in recent years from the Australian breeding ranks.

This season's Stakes-placed 2YO Sizzleme is by Snitzel's son Sizzling and out of the Zabeel mare Parnissius, and no doubt as we see more runners by sons of Snitzel hit the tracks, we will see many more stakes horses bred on this emerging cross.

Invader"We really like Invader, he will add speed and precocity to Golden Eagle, we are very excited about this mating," Rob Crosby concluded.

The dam of Golden Eagle is a full-sister to the Champion 2YO and Champion 3YO Filly in Australia in 2000-01 in Ha Ha (Danehill). Ha Ha was a winner of the Group One Golden Slipper and AJC Flight Stakes and no doubt Crosby is hoping that Golden Eagle's mating to Invader will produce another Champion 2YO Filly to continue the line that he has nurtured so well.



Advertisment
More Reading...
Legacy of Cox Plate Heroine Pinker Pinker
Each year much thought goes into deciding what stallion to send your mare to, but when that mare is the dam of a Cox Plate winner and is in her twilight years then the decision becomes all the more important.
Justify Mare Wins $250,000 Wyong Mona Lisa Stakes
A big field of 14 mares went around in the $250,000 Listed Mona Lisa Stakes (1350m) at Wyong on Friday and the race produced a thrilling finish with less than two lengths separating  the first eight over the line with Just Feelin’ Lucky taking the prize.
$1.65million Invincible Colt Hostility Resuming on Saturday
Te Akau Racing will hold a strong hand on Proisir Plate Day at Ellerslie on Saturday, particularly in the age group features.
Invader’s Fee Announced Along with Outstanding First Book of Mares
Snitzel’s brilliant Group I winning son Invader is an exciting addition to the Aquis roster and will not be short of quality partners with two outstanding young mares secured at last night’s Inglis Chairman’s Sale set to join his debut book of mares.
Aquis To Stand Australia’s Champion Two-Year-Old Colt
Progressive Australian racing and breeding powerhouse AQUIS and prominent international thoroughbred investor Phoenix Thoroughbreds have joined forces in securing for stud duties Snitzel’s Champion two-year-old son Invader.
First Foal for Invader
With the foaling season in full swing, the team at Aquis have five stallions with their first crop foals due this season, and we are delighted to have already foaled down a stunning colt by Group I winner Invader.
One to Watch – Wyong
The John O’Shea and Tom Charlton stable have been running hot into spring and unleashed a talented Wootton Bassett (GB) colt at Wyong on Friday that bolted in to win by nearly five lengths.
Ole Kirk share headlines strong September (Early) Online Sale
A share in - and mares in foal to - reigning Champion First Season Sire Ole Kirk are joined by a bevy of quality racing and breeding stock in the Inglis Digital September (Early) Online Sale, which is now open for bidding.
Kiwi Melbourne Cup Contender Kicks off at The Valley
Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) hopeful Mark Twain has landed in Melbourne and will commence his path towards the iconic feature at The Valley on Saturday.
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 AJ Moir Stakes
The Valley blasts into spring G1 action with the running of the $750,000 AJ Moir Stakes WFA at 1000m, and it's always an exciting spectacle when a full field of flyers are going full bore on the turning track!