Australian Studbook Red Flags – Quiet for Good Reason

Tara Madgwick - Tuesday July 4

The response to our ‘red flags’ story regarding factual data from the Australian Studbook has led to a follow up story about a quality stallion that is perceived to have gone quiet, but as we mentioned in the previous story it’s tough to fight a battle when you have very few bullets.

Cox Plate winning sire Shamus Award started his stud career at Widden Stud in the Hunter Valley before switching to Rosemont Stud in Victoria for the 2019 season.

Shamus Award, click for more info and a hypothetical mating.

In the time between his move being announced and the start of the 2019 breeding season things were already looking up for Shamus Award and as a result he covered 149 mares that first year down south after a career low of 84 mares the previous spring at Widden with both of those crops of foals conceived off an $11,000 fee.

Advertisement

What this means is that his current crop of three year-olds (50 of them) are from his smallest and worst credentialled book of mares and the two year-olds while greater in number (92) are also from lesser quality mares.

Shamus Award runs at 6.5% SW to runner and has sired 21 stakes-winners. He has impressively produced five Group I winners from his first four crops including multiple Group I winners Incentivise ($5.7million), Duais ($3million) and Mr Quickie ($2million) to go with El Patroness ($1.2million) and Media Award.

The reality is his next two crops were always going to find it hard to match those achievements based on numbers and quality although only five of his current season two year-olds have raced for one winner so they are a blank canvas for next season.

That one two year old winner for Shamus Award appeals as a real watch horse as she is Kiwi bred filly Quintessa, who was bought by David Ellis for $170,000 at Karaka Book 1 and won on debut for Mark Walker at Pukekohe in March at her only start. Pedigree says Oaks filly, so she’s one for the Black Book.

Based on the numbers and quality of what’s to come it’s hard not to imagine Shamus Award is getting ready for an upswing and breeders that book a mare this year may reap the benefits.

Shamus Award is priced this spring at $60,500.

Footnote: Shamus Award has sired 80 winners of over $6milion in prizemoney this season including four stakes-winners.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Elite 1088- Karaka 2025 Unveiled
Hot on the heels of a record-breaking Ready to Run Sale, the cream of New Zealand’s yearling crop has been revealed for Karaka 2025.
New French Stakes-Winner for Churchill
Currently finishing his seventh season of shuttling to Coolmore Australia, Churchill has had a productive year and sired his 16th stakes-winner of 2024 when progressive three year-old filly Some Skye landed the Listed Grand Prix de Fontainebleau (1900m) at Chantilly.
G1 Pedigree Watch - Plus Up and Comers
The spring carnival might be over, but the G1 action is now in Perth and a Queenslander took the top prize and we are also looking at a few other stakes-winners that hold the promise of more to come.
One to Watch – Canberra
At the 2023 Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast US investors Richard and Tammy Rigney of Rigney Racing purchased two yearling fillies by I Am Invincible for $2million and $1.2million and got a result with one of them in Canberra on Sunday.
Sires With Winners - Sunday November 24
Here is the full list of 72 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Cosmic Vega Breaks Through in Kilmore Cup
A rapidly deteriorating track at Kilmore proved the winning formula for the Irish import Cosmic Vega (IRE) and visiting English rider Saffie Osborne to open their Australian accounts in Sunday’s $200,000 Listed Bet365 Kilmore Cup (1600m).
Aussie Mare Youngstar Produces Exciting Japanese G3 Winner
Australian Group I winning half-sisters Youngstar and Funstar are both at stud in Japan and the former has a very smart two year-old colt in Eri King, who made it three wins from three starts when taking out the Group III Radio Nikkei Hai Kyoto Nissai Stakes (2000m) on Saturday.
Cambridge Stud News
It’s been the spring that keeps giving for Cambridge Stud and it’s not over yet.
Do Deuce From Last to First in Japan Cup
The visitors were once again humbled by the locals in the 44th running of Sunday’s Group 1 Longines Japan Cup (2400m) at Tokyo Racecourse.
Prima Park Perfect Clearance at Ready to Run
Prima Park has accrued an enviable record with their New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale graduates, and farm principal Kelly Van Dyk is hoping they can add another to that list from their 2024 draft.