A series of strong sales results from his first Australian yearlings earlier this year, combined with a flow of 15 first-crop winners across Great Britain, France, Ireland and Italy, has shored up support for Territories in the Australian market and he is midway through completing a full book of 140 mares in his fourth season of shuttling to Darley's New South Wales Kelvinside property.
That's a significant rise on the books of 57, 71 and 73 he had in his first three seasons in Australia, with Darley Australia's Head Of Sales, Alastair Pulford, rapt with the momentum that has been generated from both off the track and in the sales ring for a stallion that was always held in very high regard.
"The horse is enjoying his most popular season here. He has had twice the number of mares that he has ever covered. He has a full book of 140 and is getting through that superbly well. He's a good, fertile stallion and people have really warmed to him in the last little bit," Pulford said.
"It’s not only that he's had the winners, but he has had that fantastic yearling sales season here, where just about anything that was presented to the sales presented tremendously well, including a $350,000 filly off a $20,000 fee."
"It’s not only that he's had the winners, but he has had that fantastic yearling sales season here." - Alastair Pulford
Territories had 18 of his yearlings sold through the Australian ring in 2021, at an average of $68,458 and a median of $37,750. His top-priced filly, out of Group 3 winner Kaniana (Canny Lad) and offered by Millford Thoroughbreds, was purchased by Star Thoroughbreds/Randwick Bloodstock at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. Now named Coudreau, she is in work with Chris Waller.
Another Territories filly, out of Heaven (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}), was secured for $210,000 by Ciaron Maher Racing at the same sale, while another filly out of Playful Miss (Foreplay), brought $150,000 to Gall Bloodstock at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pulford said it wasn't always easy getting resonance in the Australian market with the progeny of shuttle stallions, but buyers had clearly seen the opportunity on offer through Territories' athletic progeny.
"The market is heavily focused on the local product and I think they probably are doing that at their peril. The quality of horse that gets to shuttle out here, not only by Darley, but by the likes of Coolmore and Arrowfield, is very high," he said.
"To be able to get them a place in the market, they have to be the real deal. Territories obviously is that.
"You don't get a second chance with these shuttle stallions. You can have Group 2 winners from here that might go to stud and get support, but you can't do that with an overseas horse.”
Strong start for shuttlers
The new season in Australia has provided some strong results for first-season shuttle stallions already, with both Darley's Frosted (USA) and Arrowfield's Shalaa (Ire), getting early stakes winners.
It is yet to be seen if Territories, who is yet to have an Australian runner, can follow suit, but having seen the impression one-time Darley shuttler Night Of Thunder (Ire) made last season, Pulford thinks Territories will make his presence felt at some stage this season.
"He won't have huge numbers, but if you compare him to Night Of Thunder last year, it’s a similar story. You don't have to have massive crops to make an impression," he said.
"We have spoken to a number of trainers who have them, people like John O'Shea and Ciaron Maher, who are very complimentary with what they have got.
"I wouldn't be surprised to see a couple of decent horses in his first crop here, just the physicals show you that."
Territories (Ire) | Standing at Darley
Pulford's expectation is, that much like their sire, Territories' first Australian crop will make more of an impression in the second half of their 2-year-old season.
"He may get a couple of pre-Christmas 2-year-olds, but they are more likely to be autumn 2-year-olds as he was the equivalent over there. He was placed in a Group 1 as a 2-year-old and was unlucky in that race and arguably should have won it," he said.
"He then went on to place in the 2000 Guineas and win a Group 1 as a 3-year-old miler. He was better at three, but he was very good at two and I wouldn't be surprised to see him get good 2-year-olds here at all."
Northern Hemisphere progeny lead the way
Indeed, the pattern of his success from his progeny in the Northern Hemisphere would indicate that, with two stakes winners in the past few days. Fulgentia (GB) won the Listed Premio Ubaldo Pandolfi in Rome on Sunday and then Rougir secured a stakes breakthrough in the G3 Prix de Reservoirs at Deauville on Tuesday.
"Rougir's was a thoroughly deserved win. She's had six starts for three wins and has been Group 1-placed. She's a very valuable filly in her own right now. She's flown the flag from the beginning, and there is plenty of back-up as well. We are extremely encouraged by that," Pulford said.
Rougir was his first-ever winner at Chantilly back in June and the Cedric Rossi-trained filly has paved the way for further success for her sire.
"He's had 15 individual winners and now two stakes winners and another five stakes placed, so not only has he had a volume of winners but plenty of decent ones as well. We knew early on that he was going very well. His winners have been winning at major tracks, which is always obviously a good sign.
"At one stage, he was the leading sire of 2-year-olds, in terms of stallions with horses rated 90 and above. He's made an impact early and it was a positive impact with quality winners rather than just numbers."
