Telemon Celebrate Crowning of Sidestep as Champion First Season Sire

Media Release - Thursday August 1
Telemon Thoroughbreds today paused to toast their Champion First Season sire SIDESTEP.

Joe Heather & SIDESTEP taking a selfie to commemorate the afternoon that KIAMICHI won the Group 1 Golden Slipper. The young son of EXCEED AND EXCEL adds the honour to his title of Champion 2YO Colt of 2013, and joins an illustrious group which, in preceding years, includes ZOUSTAR (2018), PIERRO (2017), SMART MISSILE (2016), HINCHINBROOK (2015), I AM INVINCIBLE (2014) and NORTHERN METEOR (2013).

ZOUSTAR, sire of superstar SUNLIGHT, was the only member of that group to exceed SIDESTEP'S first season prizemoney total.

SIDESTEP's first crop was headlined by multiple stakes winner KIAMICHI, winner of the Group 1 Golden Slipper and Group 3 Magic Night Stakes.

With KIAMICHI's win, SIDESTEP became the first sire since STRATUM to sire a Golden Slipper winner in his first crop.

In a phenomenal season, SIDESTEP placed fourth in the 2YO Sires table behind I AM INVINCIBLE, SNITZEL and his own illustrious sire EXCEED AND EXCEL, with the latter only passing him on the final day of the season.

SIDESTEP is currently a runaway leader on the First Season Sires table in France. If he can prevail as a dual hemisphere Champion First Season sire, it will be a history-making feat.

SIDESTEP having a play in his paddock during the recent filming of a 'Bred To Win' episode with Caroline Searcy to feature in the coming weeks on Sky Thoroughbred Central. Image courtesy of Searcy Media. The results of SIDESTEP's first crop have been a coup for Telemon Thoroughbreds which will stand him for a second season on its Queensland roster under an arrangement with Darley.

Telemon General Manager Joe Heather said:

"Being crowned Champion First Season Sire and producing the Golden Slipper winner from his first crop is a dream start.

"It is testament to the work of Darley where the foundation of his success was laid.

"SIDESTEP has enjoyed plenty of rest and relaxation in recent months, and after a few celebratory carrots today, will set his mind to easily his largest and highest quality book of mares yet."

Telemon owner Dan Fletcher said:

"We are so proud of what Sidestep has achieved.

"He has given us an amazing start at Telemon as well as justified the faith in him from Darley and those breeders that have sent mares to him across his first four years at stud.

"It is a coup for the Queensland breeding industry and a privilege for our farm to have another champion stallion in our ranks."

For more information on Telemon Thoroughbreds visit www.telemonstud.com.au
Advertisment
More Reading...
Royal Ascot Day 2 – Godolphin Strike, Blueblood and Bargain
More action and excitement at Royal Ascot on Day 2 with a Godolphin late bloomer winning his first G1, JMac in the winners circle on a speedy squib turned miler and 2YO stakes races produced a blueblood filly and a bargain 9000 guinea colt, whose 'Havana' sireline is coming to Australia this spring.
Breeding To Win - 2025 Royal Ascot G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes
In the depths of our Aussie winter nights there is nothing better than tuning in to all the pomp and glory of Royal Ascot and as we have passed the halfway mark it's time to look towards Saturday night and the iconic sprint that has been won four times previously by an Aussie bred horse.
Is Sidestep the Best Value Sire in Australia?
Champion colt of his year SIDESTEP has made a dream start to his stud career with Golden Slipper winner KIAMICHI rocketing him to the top of the First Season Sires Table and behind only heavyweights I AM INVINCIBLE and SNITZEL in the 2YO Sires Premiership.
Four for Sidestep
Friendless in betting, I Am Courage was sent off a $61 chance at his career debut but he cut a swathe through nine opponents in a QTIS Two-Years-Old Handicap over 1050m at Toowoomba on Easter Monday to credit the First Season Sire frontrunner Sidestep with his fourth individual winner.
Sidestep Winner Brings Joy to Breeder
Tamworth based owner breeder Errol Leicht has had a lot of success with his broodmare Time Release and she made it four winners from four foals to race when her two year-old filly by Sidestep scored her first win at Grafton on Wednesday.
French Stakes-Winner for Sidestep
Exciting young sire Sidestep sired his first Northern Hemisphere stakes-winner overnight with promising two yea-rold colt Real Appeal winning the Listed Prix La Flèche at Maisons-Laffitte.
Can Lightning Strike Twice for Sidestep in Golden Slipper?
With nominations now in place for the 2020 Longines Golden Slipper, every owner and breeder can be forgiven for daydreaming about Australian racing and breeding’s most coveted prize.
Tassort 2YO Wins on Debut in NZ
Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray wouldn’t usually present a horse to the races without a trial, but that indicated how much they thought of Love The Sort, and she bolted in on debut at the Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
It’s a busy time of year for late season juveniles looking get a run on the board before they turn three and eight heats at the Rosehill trials on Friday were won by two year-olds including some unraced youngsters by gun first season sires Wootton Bassett (GB), Ole Kirk and Farnan.
Coolmore 2YO Domination at Royal Ascot
Coolmore continued their domination of the juvenile features at Royal Ascot overnight with an impressive win in the Group II Norfolk Stakes (5f) for Charles Darwin, the full brother to 2022 Champion European 2YO Colt Blackbeard.