A record crowd attended the 2019 Sun Stud Open Day & Stallion Parade in Victoria on Friday with many taking the opportunity to inspect Champion 2YO, National Defense, for the first time.
A Group One
winning son of Invincible Spirit, National Defense only arrived at Sun Stud on
Monday after journeying from the Irish National Stud, but looked in magnificent
order … a good thing as he'll be one busy boy this spring!
Despite the threat of rain, over 350 people flocked to Sun Stud, as the MC – Racing.com's Jayne Ivil – also introduced the other nine stallions on Victoria's premier stallion lineup: Fiorente, Magnus, Palentino, Fighting Sun, Thronum, Bel Esprit, Love Conquers All, Ready For Victory and Squamosa.
Fiorente has really captured the imagination of breeders and will have a full dance card from 1 September onwards, particularly as news has filtered through of his stakes winning 2YO, Power Scheme, who convincingly won a trial that morning, while Magnus – with over 100 individual winners again last season – continues to be highly popular.
Meanwhile,
the first crop of flashy dual Group One winner, Palentino, will be sold at
major 2020 yearling sales; we are yet to see the best of Fighting Sun as only
20% of his foal crops have raced at this stage; Thronum is about to embark on
his second spring after covering an elite book of mares in 2018; Bel Esprit
remains the champion sire of champions; Love Conquers All has over 78% winners
to runners from his first crop; the first of the Ready To Victorys are now with
leading trainers and poised to race this spring and; Squamosa is one of the
most exciting young stallions in Victoria.
Sun Stud will again be offering no payment until live foal on all of its stallions in 2019.
"A big thank you to all the breeders who attended the Open Day & Stallion Parade and we're looking forward to a bumper year in the covering shed and sharing their success," Sun Stud's Senior Sales & Nominations Manager, Mark Lindsay points out.
"It was also great that the prize generously donated by Moonee Valley Racing Club managed to raise $1,165 for our friends at the Riding For Disabled Association of Victoria."
