Sun sets on Statue Of Liberty's wonderful career

Breednet - Thursday October 4
Statue Of Liberty, a stallion much loved by Victorian breeders, has been retired to live out his days at Sun Stud headquarters at Kerrie in the Macedon Ranges.

Statue Of LibertyThe proven sire, a brilliant speed source, is perhaps most famously known as the sire of the triple Group 1 winner (and five-time runner up) Hay List.

Originally shuttling from Japan's East Stud on behalf of Syndicate Manager Mr Nakajima to the former Eliza Park, he was a real boost at the time for the Victorian thoroughbred industry.

He stood in Australia for 12 seasons from 2004, albeit with breeding duties at Eliza Park interrupted in 2007 due to travel restrictions brought about by the Equine Influenza crisis.

His first two crops made every post a winner. They included 2009 Magic Millions 3YO Trophy winner Tempest Tost, Group winner Dan Baroness, juvenile stakes winner Elysees, multiple Group winning sprinter Mic Mac and the aforementioned champion sprinter Hay List.

Statue of Liberty was among the top five leading first season sires in Australia in 2008/2009 and was leading such sire in Victoria that racing season.

Mark Lindsay, Senior Sales and Nominations Manager at Sun Stud recalls how thrilled they were to get a stallion of his calibre.

"He was versatile too with Group winners from 1000 metres to 2400 metres and, quite remarkably, ended up with winners in twenty different countries!"

"Despite ending up with a Perth Cup winner like Star Exhibit, he was best known for his sprinters such as Mic Mac and, of course, Hay List who would have ended up with a whole lot more Group Ones except for running into Black Caviar on several occasions."

"He has certainly made a lot of breeders and owners happy over the years and he is also making his presence felt as a broodmare sire, so I'd imagine you'll still be hearing about Statue of Liberty for some time to come."

A son of the legendary Storm Cat, he provided a tremendous outcross for Danehill mares for breeders around the country.

"He has one of the best pedigrees in the Australian Stud Book being out of the Seattle Slew mare Charming Lassie, and a half-brother to the four-time Group One winner Lemon Drop Kid," Lindsay said.

"Charming Lassie is a half-sister to multiple Group winner Weekend Surprise (USA), the dam of Group 1 Breeders' Cup Classic winner and successful sire, A.P. Indy and the Preakness Stakes winner Summer Squall."

In all, Statue of Liberty produced 730 live foals in Australia. His last crop in Victoria included 35 live foals (now yearlings) while in his one (and final) year stint at the former Sun Stud property in Queensland her served 32 mares with those subsequent foals now dropping.

Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria wishes Statue of Liberty all the best in his retirement…no doubt he will be watching the races as he progeny continue to win across Australia in future years.

News from Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria.
Advertisment
More Reading...
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
Second Perth Cup for Star Exhibit
With five runners it was no surprise that Bob and Sandra Peters won their eighth Group II Perth Cup at Ascot on Saturday, but it was a shock that it came with the $35 outsider Star Exhibit who ran down the favoured Action.