Images courtesy of Darley
Darley Australia paraded stallions from its Victorian roster, plus the NSW-based shuttle stallions, in front of a large crowd at Northwood Park in Victoria on Sunday.
The rain held off for just long enough, and Andy Makiv, Darley’s General Manager, Victoria, was thrilled with the turnout.
“It was a big crowd,” he said. “Rain had been threatening, but it came late, after the parades had finished. The six Victorian horses paraded extremely well and were very popular."
Darley Victoria stallion parade
In terms of the local roster, Makiv highlighted Frosted (USA) as the standout.
A son of champion American sire Tapit (USA), Frosted was a three-time Grade 1 winner, headed by a record-breaking 14-length win in the stallion-making Metropolitan Mile at Belmont Park.
Standing for a fee of $27,500 this season, Frosted will be represented by his first yearlings early in the new year. His first weanlings in Australia have sold for up to $300,000.
“Frosted’s back for another season here, and it seems that every man and his dog wants to book to him,” Makiv said. “He paraded extremely well, as he always does.
“He’s the type of horse where people are just naturally drawn to him. He’s an absolute standout.”
Gallery: The Darley Victoria stallion roster
The highest service fee on Darley’s Victorian roster is the $49,500 for Brazen Beau, a champion sprinter by I Am Invincible.
Winner of the G1 Coolmore Stud S. and Newmarket H. in Australia and Group 1-placed in the Diamond Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot, Brazen Beau has made a promising start. His first Southern Hemisphere crop of 2-year-olds featured seven winners, and there have been nine to date in his first European crop.
There have been stakes winners in both hemispheres, with Accession winning the Inglis Nursery at Randwick and Avengers Queen (GB) the Premio Mario e Vittorio Crespi.
Meanwhile, $8,00 stallion Holler has his first yearlings this season, the first foals by $22,000 stallion Impending are arriving this spring, and proven sires Sepoy and Street Boss (USA) are standing for $11,000 and $27,500 respectively.
The Victorian parade also had a NSW flavour this year.
“Four horses from New South Wales paraded, the shuttle stallions – Ribchester (Ire), Harry Angel (Ire), Territories (Ire) and Astern.
“I think the New South Wales horses were extremely well received. It was a great chance for Victorian breeders to have a good look at them.”
NSW first season sire Harry Angel made his Australian debut to Victorian breeders on his way to Kelvinside
Attracting particular interest was Harry Angel, a multiple Group 1-winning son of Dark Angel (Ire). The winner of the July Cup and Sprint Cup, he will stand his first season in Australia this spring for a fee of $22,000.
“There was a great response to Harry Angel in his first parade in Australia,” Makiv said. “He made a really good impression.
“Ribchester also looked outstanding and has let down really well, and Territories and Astern were received very favourably as well.”
