27 October 2023
Whilst Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dines in Washington, D.C. with President Biden, it must be said that Australia’s strong relationship with the United States extends much further than just politics.
A quick scroll through the Black Type race results in Australia for the last eighteen months is an easy reminder of the influence America continues to have on the outcomes of our greatest races.
The (USA) has had quite the year on the track in Australia with two of our five prized Group One two-year-old contest winners out of mares donning the suffix; LITTLE BROSE (Per Incanto x Mohegan Sky (USA)) & KING COLORADO (Kingman x More Aspen (USA)).
Just recently, the prized Group Three Gimcrack Stakes was taken out by MANAAL (Tassort), a daughter of RED LODGE (Midshipman), sourced by Emirates Park at the Keeneland November Breeding Sale in 2018.
This racetrack success followed on from her older brother fetching A$1.1million a year prior as a yearling. On the topic of yearling sale success, nine yearlings out of American bred mares have made in excess of A$1million in recent sales seasons since COVID – further reinforcement that the top end of town is happy to dine out on progeny from mares sourced in Kentucky.
In January this year, the first foal out of the stakes winning QUALITY ROAD (Elusive Quality) mare, SOUTH OF FRANCE (purchased for USD$150,000) made A$750,000 by first season stallion MICROPHONE (Exceed and Excel) from the draft of Newhaven Park.
At present the American mare population is batting well above its weight through the ring and on the track for the small number of mares nestled throughout the land of sweeping plains.
Although it would be possible to table pages and pages of stakes results with highlighted suffixes, let’s be honest, this email is meant to be short and sweet.
But think of SHINZO, COOLANGATTA & REDIENER out of MORE THAN READY (USA) mares and IMPERATRIZ, CYLINDER, AUTUMN BALLET and DOULL as progeny of SHAMARDAL (USA) sired mares and you quickly get the point. The suffix transcends continents.
The table would be long and exhaustive, highlighting our successful relationship with the American breed.
We must also remember, Lasix was phased out from the crop of two-year-olds in 2020 and stakes races in 2021 at tracks owned by Churchill Downs, The Stronach Group, NYRA, Keeneland, Del Mar etc.
The USD year-on-year is only 2.5% worse off against the AUD compared to 6.4% and 6.75% declines against the GBP and EUR respectively.
It is well worth considering how to add an American mare to your broodmare band and it would be remiss to not mention the buzz word ‘outcross’. It goes without saying…
So get in touch – send through any questions – WJB is heading to Kentucky on 5 November 2023 for the two sales (Fasig Tipton & Keeneland) following Derby Day at Flemington.