Peter
and Leah Smith are proud to announce the relocation to Victoria of exciting
stallion Swift Alliance.
An
outstanding sprinter held in the highest regard by trainer Gai Waterhouse, the
handsome bay has stood the last few seasons in New South Wales serving just
small books.
When
discovering that the horse was on the market, Peter Smith jumped at the
opportunity to stand the member of the hardy Sir Tristram line - noting that
Swift Alliance is a horse who ticks every box for the owner/breeder.
"I
really think that front running speed horses make good stallions," Smith
said - noting that current leading stallion Snitzel was one such galloper -
"and Swift Alliance had plenty of pace and a great turn of foot."
"Not
many horses win five stakes races and he did it over three seasons, proving his
class, toughness and durability."
"And
he retired sound, something those who breed to race are going to
appreciate."
Right
in the market on the back of strong trial form at his Canterbury debut in
October 2008, Swift Alliance put on display his terrific natural dash, proving
a class above his rivals with an exciting 5 1/4 length victory.
"He
is a very professional race horse," reported jockey Daniel Ganderton.
"I had to shake him up a bit from the wide gate but he came back to me and
when I asked him to extend the more I asked the more he gave."
Odds-on
at his next start at Rosehill, Swift Alliance was just as fast and just as
impressive - and his good form continued in his second preparation which saw
him win four of five.
Rapidly
progressing through the grades, Swift Alliance won 1200m contests at Randwick
and Rosehill enroute to a two length victory in the Listed Show County Quality.
"He
really exploded when I wanted him to," said jockey Blake Shinn - "he
quickened like a really good horse."
"He
is a horse on the improve," said Gai Waterhouse, "he has so much
brilliant speed and digs so deep. He is very exciting, I love being involved
with him."
Gooree
Stud's Andrew Baddock was also impressed - "I really think he is a top
class sprinter," he said, adding that "he is a very unassuming horse
but foolproof - I think he is a top liner."
From
there he made his first trip to Melbourne, taking out the Gr.3 Bobbie Lewis
Quality down the famous Flemington straight.
Again
Waterhouse was enthusiastic - "he is such a terrific racehorse. I thought
he was going to run a nice fifth but then he just went whoosh and accelerated
like the very good galloper he is."
Swift
Alliance enhanced his form the following autumn with another Gr.3 victory (the
Star Kingdom Stakes) before a close and gutsy second in the Gr.1 Galaxy.
Still
racing well later that year he won the Listed Razor Sharp, doing a great job
with topweight.
"He
set off after a nice tempo and quickened very well," Nash Rawiller
reported, "and with 60kg today it was a great effort."
"He
is just a real bonny sort of horse and one of the favourites at the stable. All
he tries to do is please."
Again
asked to carry 60kg in his second Gr.3 Star Kingdom Stakes, Swift Alliance was
again too good.
"He
really towed me through the run with the big weight and once he got his run he
wasn't going to get run down," Rawiller said.
"This
horse has a heart as big as himself. He is a little champion in his own right,
he never lets you down."
Retiring
to stud having performed consistently at high level over three seasons, Swift
Alliance won nine of his 19 starts, amassing in excess of $628,000 in stakes.
The
particuarly handsome Swift Alliance is one of ten stakes winners sired by the
underrated Don Eduardo who was considered by many great judges - such as George
Smith, Sir Patrick Hogan and Gai Waterhouse - to be the best yearling ever to
go through a southern hemisphere sale.
Little
wonder then that he attracted a then record-breaking bid of $3.6 million at the
2000 Karaka Premier, Gooree the winners with Gai Waterhouse the under bidder.
Like
his son Don Eduardo was a horse who knew how to find the line, during the
summer and autumn of 2002 stringing together four impressive victories - each
time rising in class.
From
a 3 1/4 maiden length victory to a six length Class One win to an easy Listed
win at Caulfield to Group Three success in the Shannon (now Autumn) Classic.
And
two starts later, after a gallant Rosehill Guineas second to Carnegie Express,
an exciting victory in the AJC Derby. And he went on to prove himself at
weight-for-age, finishing third in the Underwood Stakes and the Australian Cup
both won by the champion Northerly.
Faring
well at stud in New Zealand before his recent return to Gooree Stud, Don
Eduardo has been represented by ten stakes winners including the dual Group One
winner Booming and the Group winners Divine Rebel, Mungo Jerry,
Vickezzchardonnay, Don Domingo and All In Black.
Swift
Alliance is one of three black type performers produced by the imported Silver
Deputy mare Visual Emotion, also dam of the Group One placed dual Group Three
winner Sultry Feeling and grandam of the Group Two Shannon Stakes winner Rock
Sturdy.
This
is a high class international family, one that has also produced the big race
winners Selmis, Serape, Hawkbill, Tiz Miz Sue, Admiral Kitten and the Breeders
Cup Mile winning champion stallion Cozzene.
Described
by Peter Smith as a "really beautiful horse with an outstanding
temperament," Swift Alliance makes his Victorian debut at a fee of $3300
(incl gst).
He
stands at Springview, Euroa. Contact Peter Smith for details on 0418 531 255