A colt that wins the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) is invariably offered a chance at a commercial stud career and champion sires Redoute’s Choice and Extreme Choice have set the bar high in that regard.
Including Extreme Choice, there are seven active sires in Australia that won the Blue Diamond so let’s take a look at them in order of the year in which they won the race.
The 2023 winner of the race was Little Brose, who went to stud in New Zealand at Little Avondale Stud last spring for the first time.
It should be noted of the 10 colts engaged this year, none are running for established stallion syndicates, so all will be considered as sire prospects if they should emerge with a G1 win and Godolphin have two contenders in Zambales and Milsons Point.
G1 Blue Diamond Winners at Stud in Australia
2022 Daumier – Twin Hills Stud, NSW – Covered 52 mares last spring at a fee of $16,500
Oldest progeny are yearlings in 2026 and have sold for up to $200,000.
2021 Artorius – Newgate, NSW – Covered 98 mares last spring at a fee of $22,000.
Oldest progeny are yearlings in 2026 and at sales so far have sold for up to $220,000.
2020 Tagaloa – Yulong, Vic – Covered 46 mares at a fee of $22,000 last spring.
Oldest progeny are three year-olds and has sired Group winners Salty Pearl and Spicy Lu.
2018 - Written By – Widden NSW – Covered 113 mares at a fee of $22,000.
Sire of Group winners Straight Charge, The Playwright, etc and prolific sire of winners.
2016 – Extreme Choice – Newgate, NSW – Covered 111 mares last year ( he covers all year due to his tricky fertility) at a fee of $330,000
Proven G1 sire of Golden Slipper and Melbourne Cup winners, plus G1 stars She’s Extreme, Espiona, Apocalyptic and last year’s Blue Diamond winner Devil Night. Fledgling sire of sires – Stay Inside, Extreme Warrior, Tiger of Malay.
2015 – Pride of Dubai – Coolmore, NSW – Covered 72 mares last spring at $27,500.
Proven G1sire of champions Pride of Jenni, Bella Nipotina, Dubai Honour.
2010 – Star Witness – Widden Stud Victoria – Covered 20 mares last spring at $8,800.
Proven G1 sire and now a sire of sires through Star Turn and Graff and influential broodmare sire thanks to Bella Nipotina and Aeliana.
