By Bren O'Brien
Strasbourg, the Group 2-winning son of I Am Invincible, will stand at Rosemont Stud in Victoria in 2020 after a deal was struck with the colt's owners, China Horse Club.
A partnership between Rosemont and China Horse Club will see Strasbourg debut at a fee of $11,000 (inc GST), with lifetime breeding rights available for $22,000 (inc GST).
That service fee is the same price his own star sire began his career at Yarraman Park 10 years ago, before rising to become the highest-priced advertised stallion in Australia in 2019.
Strasbourg as a yearling
Bred by Yarraman Park and Miller Thoroughbreds, Strasbourg is from stakes-placed mare Danish Spy (Dane Shadow) and was a $750,000 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale purchase from Yarraman Park's draft for China Horse Club, Newgate Farm and WinStar Farm.
He was trained by Peter and Paul Snowden and his 12-start career was highlighted by victory in the G2 BTC Sires' Produce in 2019, having earlier won the Max Lees Classic on debut and placed in a R. Listed Inglis Nursery.
China Horse Club’s Michael Wallace described Strasbourg as physically flawless.
“Hearing how good looking they are is one thing, actually seeing the horse in the flesh is another. As soon as you see Strasbourg, you will be booking in. It’s that simple," he said.
“We buy a number of horses every year yet this colt stands out as one of the best types we’ve ever purchased. He’s by far the best-looking son of I Am Invincible we’ve had involvement in. Not only that, he’s the most precocious son of ‘Vinnie’ we’ve had through the CHC system given he was a dominant debut winner and stakes performer as a pre-Christmas 2-year-old.
“We buy a number of horses every year yet this colt stands out as one of the best types we’ve ever purchased. He’s by far the best-looking son of I Am Invincible we’ve had involvement in." - Michael Wallace
"He’s got an ideal profile and genetic makeup to be a successful stallion. We’re thrilled to partner with an emerging organisation in Rosemont and excited to be supporting the stallion with a number of CHC mares.”
Strasbourg
Rosemont Stud Principal Anthony Mithen was delighted to add a stallion of the pedigree, performance and physical quality of Strasbourg to the roster for 2020.
“Incredibly excited to partner with China Horse Club on such an attractive horse. He’s a higher performed 2-year-old than his illustrious sire and a real clone of him physically. We’re confident breeders would agree he’d be the best looking son of ‘Vinnie’ to be found anywhere in Australia," he said.
"We’re confident breeders would agree he’d be the best looking son of ‘Vinnie’ to be found anywhere in Australia." - Anthony Mithen
Strasbourg becomes the fourth son of I Am Invincible to stand at stud in Victoria in 2020, joining fellow newcomer I Am Immortal, who debuts at Swettenham Stud, as well as Spendthrift's Overshare and Darley's Brazen Beau.
"Like Brazen Beau, Strasbourg is a Group 2-winning juvenile by I Am Invincible who also shares the same 2-year-old Timeform rating as the successful young Darley stallion," Mithen said.
"In fact, he’s the only I Am Invincible colt at stud to be a winning, stakes performer prior to Christmas. He certainly possesses the early sharpness that is typical of his sire and the turn of foot he showed to win the Sires' over 1400 metres was one of a proper colt."
I Am Invincible, sire of Strasbourg | Standing at Yarraman Park Stud
Rosemont and China Horse Club have also confirmed lifetime breeding rights will be available for a price of twice the initial service fee.
"The value in the breeding right is especially hard to ignore given it is two nominations each year for the first three years, then one perpetually. I urge breeders to call in and see Strasbourg for themselves – he is simply next level as a physical specimen,” Mithen said.
Rosemont is also running a promotion where one lifetime breeding rights holder will win a free trip to the French city of Strasbourg.
Rosemont's 2020 roster also contains Shamus Award and Starspangledbanner, who are both priced at $19,800 (inc GST), as well as Starcraft (NZ) for $8800 (inc GST) and Nostradamus for $5500 (inc GST).
