Best On Breeding

Mark Smith - Thursday April 26

For the past few months, we have been lauding the inspired decisions of Sheikh Mohammad Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum’s bloodstock agent Tim Stakemire in acquiring the dams of Oohood and Hiyaam relatively cheaply at broodmare sales.

This weeks ‘best on breeding’ is out of another Stakemire purchase but this one was no bargain basement buy.

Back in 2013, Testa Rossa’s Group 1 winning daughter Rostova missed to Fastnet Rock.

Newgate Farm elected to put her on a plane the following August with a planned date with the great Frankel at Juddmonte Farms.

In January 2015, Rostova (pictured ) arrived home carrying a positive test to the undefeated son of Galileo and a few months later was back in the sales ring at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.


A Group 1 winner in foal to Frankel does not come cheap and Stakemire needed to shell out $850,000 for the daughter of Testa Rossa.

At the time of the sale, Stakemire said: She’s a quality mare, she proved it on the racetrack and I think she will prove it in the broodmare barn too.

"She’s got a very nice More Than Ready with Gai (Waterhouse) at the moment that is going very well.”

"There’s a Frankel to come, that’s a jewel on top isn’t it.”

The More Than Ready filly Stakemire was alluding to was Prontezza.

A $550,000 yearling, Prontezza proved useful enough to win four races and at the recent Inglis Chairman’s Sale was purchased by Yu Long Investments for $370,000 carrying a positive test to American Pharoah (USA).

Rostova subsequently foaled a colt named Farooq who made a winning debut by six lengths in a 2yo maiden over 1050 metres at a sleepy Sunday meeting at Balaklava on February 25.

The Tony McEvoy-trained colt will need to step it up a notch in Saturday’s Group III Breeders Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville where he will meet, among others, his $1.8 million stablemate Al Naifa (Redoute’s Choice x Court by Anabaa) who is a half-sister to Group I ATC All-Aged Stakes winner English (Encosta de Lago).

Morphettville was the scene of Rostova’s biggest success. It came in the 2010 Group 1 SAJC Sportingbet Classic (Robert Sangster Stakes) but she can also boast wins in the Group II VRC Sires' Produce Stakes, Group III MRC Blue Diamond Prelude (F), Listed VRC Schiavello Stakes and Listed MRC Blue Diamond Preview (F) while accumulating prizemoney of $756,475.

Rostova is certainly being given every chance to succeed and stud.

Following the Frankel colt Farooq there is a yearling filly by Fastnet Rock, a weanling colt by Medaglia d’Oro (USA) and she was covered last spring by Snitzel.

 

 

 

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.