By Bren O'Brien
With momentum firmly behind him ahead of his first yearlings hitting the Australian sales ring in 2020, Sir Prancealot (Ire) was the star of the show at Cornerstone Stud's stallion parade at Angaston on Sunday.
Fresh from the news that he will shuttle to Rancho San Miguel in California off the back of the success of his northern hemisphere crops from his time at Tally-Ho Stud, Sir Prancealot is set to serve his biggest Australian book yet.
Sir Prancealot was the 'star of the show' at Cornerstone Stud's stallion parade
"He was the star of the show," Cornerstone Stud's bloodstock manager Sam Pritchard-Gordon said. "He paraded well and was well received. He's tracking nicely towards a book of 120."
"He's going in the right direction for a stallion in his third season. Without Akeed Mofeed here anymore, he's the pin-up boy of South Australian stallions."
"He's going in the right direction for a stallion in his third season... he's the pin-up boy of South Australian stallions." - Sam Pritchard-Gordon
The deal with Rancho San Miguel came off the back of a run of nine winners from just 13 runner in the USA, a group which includes Group 2 winners Beau Recall (Ire) and Madam Dancealot (Ire).
Pritchard-Gordon said the shuttling agreement gives local breeders looking to support the son of Tamayuz (GB) a real sense of the reputation he is building in the USA.
"It gives some clarity on what those results mean in America and hopefully you can translate that back to what his progeny here are going to do in 15 months' time when they hit the track," he said.
Sir Prancealot served 62 mares in his first year at Cornerstone and 110 last year. The 2016 Champion Freshman Sire in Europe will stand for $14,300 (inc GST) in 2019. His first crop sold up to $62,000 at the weanling sales earlier this year.
On a clear sunny day in the Barossa Valley, those at the stallion parade were also given an opportunity to see Cornerstone's three other stallions, Zebedee (GB), Valentia and Ambidexter.
Pritchard-Gordon said while the stud was able to sell some additional nominations ahead of the upcoming breeding season, it was also a good chance for breeders to get a good look at who their mares are going to in 2019.
"The breeders were there confirming what they were booking, matching the stallions to the mare. We took some new nominations too. It was a good day. It was lovely weather and a lovely backdrop," he said.
Zebedee, who stands at $9900 (inc GST), has produced four winners from his first Australian crop, while Valentia's ($7700) first crop hits the tracks in the upcoming season and Ambidexter has had ($5500) 21 winners from 36 runners in 2018/19.
