Sun Stud Goes 'National' with Open Day

Media Release - Friday August 16

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.

National DefenseA 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.

FiorenteMeanwhile, 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.

Advertisement

"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. 

Palentino

"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."

Advertisment
More Reading...
From FNQ To Sha Tin - Aussie Bred Sprinter Wins G2 Premier Bowl
Some horses arrive in Hong Kong with a very different back story - Fresh from winning the $20million The Everest with Ka Ying Rising, David Hayes was back in the winner’s list at Sha Tin on Sunday when Tomodachi Kokoroe won the Group II Premier Bowl (1200m).
Second Wootton Bassett Son Added to Coolmore Stallion Roster for 2026
Set to join Camille Pissarro as the second G1 winning son of Wootton Bassett on the stallion roster for Ireland in 2026 is Henri Matisse, who this time last year was about to claim his first G1 victory at the Breeders Cup meeting at Del Mar.
Yes Yes Yes 3YO Shooting for G2 on Monday
Last year’s Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) set Savaglee up for Group One glory in Christchurch, and Matamata trainer Pam Gerard is hoping to follow a similar blueprint in 2025 with her Yes Yes Yes 3YO Affirmative Action..
Doubtland 2YO All On Red Smashes Them Again at Ascot
Widden Stud's Doubtland has a potential 2YO topliner in Perth in the shape of exciting WA colt All On Red, who remains undefeated from two starts after another comprehensive Ascot Saturday win.
Cream Rises at Trentham
A half-sister by Hello Youmzain (Fr) to dual Group I winner Mustang Valley, exciting filly Cream Tart is set to line up in one of the major three-year-old races over New Zealand Cup Week following her impressive win in Sunday’s Upper Hutt Car Sales LTD Three-Year-Old (1400m) at Trentham.
Wootton Bassett and Camelot 2YO Colts Win Final French Group Ones
The last French Group I races of their flat season were run on Sunday and Aidan O’Brien produced the winners of both the Group I Criterium International (1600m) and Group I Criterium de Saint Cloud (1800m).
A Century of NZB National Yearling Sales Success: Cox Plate
Moonee Valley’s A$6m Group One WS Cox Plate (2040m) is known as the weight-for-age championship of Australasia and has been won by many of Australia and New Zealand’s greatest thoroughbreds.
Early Return Home for Cogburn
Group I winning Not This Time son Cogburn (USA) will return to WinStar Farm in Kentucky earlier than planned after disappointing fertility results during his first Australian covering season at Widden Stud.
Sires With Winners - Friday October 24
Here is the full list of 60 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Transatlantic Takes $1million Five Diamonds Prelude
Transatlantic’s lucrative spring carnival continued at Randwick with an arrogant victory in the $1m Five Diamonds Prelude.