Australian breeders have long become accustomed to having access to some of the world’s best stallions and bloodlines thanks to the shuttle sire, writes Renée Geelen. The mighty Danehill began the shuttle trend, and his successful progeny in both hemispheres went a long way to ensuring the shuttle stallion became a standard part of our industry.
The 2018 Inglis Easter Sale also includes several locally born yearlings by top international sires who don’t shuttle. Breeders have taken considerable risks to send their best broodmares to the other side of the world to mate with these stallions.
USA Sire Tapit (Pulpit) has been crowned Champion Sire in North America on three occasions, and to have his progeny represented at the Inglis Easter Sale is a coup for breeders and buyers. Lot 16 is a filly with heavy linebreeding to strong USA sprint lines, and she is the second foal of a half-sister to Gr1 winner Man from Wicklow, and Gr2 winner Wild Heart Dancing. Lot 345 is a colt who is the first foal of a half-sister to Gr2 winner Nefertini; while Lot 361 is a colt from a winning half-sister to stakes winner Social Director (dam of Gr2 winner Dream About).
Japan Cup winner, and Japanese triple crown winner, Deep Impact (Sunday Silence) has made a huge impact at stud with 105 stakes winners, including 33 Gr1 winners such as Getildonna, Real Impact, A Shin Hikari, Mikki Isle, and Tosen Stardom. He has three yearling fillies on offer at Easter, including Lot 11, a filly from Gr1 winner Alverta, whose first three foals are already winners. Lot 70 is a half-sister to stakes winner Manhattan Street, and her dam is a half-sister to Champion Sprinter Lankan Rupee; while Lot 442 is the first foal of stakes winner You’re So Good (Savabeel).
Fellow Japan Cup winner Epiphaneia (Symboli Kris S) is a young sire in Japan with a stakes winner from his first crop already, and he has one yearling on offer at Easter. Lot 405 is a filly from Travessia (Deep Impact) who is a half-sister to Gr1 winners The Deputy and King Kamehameha (Champion Sire in Japan). This pedigree is unusual for Australia, and is on the improve.
Another Japanese based stallion is Lord Kanaloa (a Gr1 winning son of champion sire King Kamehameha, and leading first season sire in Japan last season). His colt, Lot 35, is the first foal of a winning half-sister to group winner Dia De La Novia.
Last, but by no means least, the world's highest ever rated racehorse Frankel (Galileo) has already made his mark on the Easter sale, with several lots sold in the past couple of years. Frankel has 20 stakes-winners at this early stage in his career, including Gr1 winners Soul Stirring, and Cracksman. Lot 6 is a colt from imported Gr3 winner Acts of Grace, who is a half-sister to Invincible Spirit; while Lot 21 is the first foal, a colt, from an unraced Oasis Dream mare, who is a daughter of Gr1 winner Aquarelliste (dam of Ame Bleue).
