Acrobat joins Coolmore Australia roster

Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

Acrobat had just one start for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, winning the R. Listed Inglis Nursery in the fastest 1000-metre time for a 2-year-old ever at Randwick, 56.02s, before injury prevented him from getting back to the track.

He brings impeccable pedigree credentials to his stud duties, not only as a son of the Coolmore legend Fastnet Rock, but being out of Hips Don’t Lie (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), the G2 Reisling S. winner who has produced two other stakes winners and a stakes performer to Fastnet Rock in Lake Geneva, Ennis Hill and Memphis Rock.

Bred by Coolmore and raced in its iconic navy blue colours, it was no surprise that Acrobat ended up on its roster, with Coolmore Australia Principal, Tom Magnier, saying he will be given every chance to forge a successful career as a stallion.

“He’s the fastest 2-year-old ever by legendary sire and sire-of-sires Fastnet Rock – rated higher as a 2-year-old than even Fastnet Rock’s G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Catchy,” explained Magnier.

“He’s from a mare by Champion sprinter and leading broodmare sire Stravinsky, from a brilliantly fast Australian 2-year-old speed pedigree. His dam, Hips Don’t Lie, won a Golden Slipper lead-up, the G2 Reisling S. and has produced not only Acrobat but also G3 Chairman’s S.-winning juvenile Ennis Hill and G1 Golden Slipper and Blue Diamond placegetter Lake Geneva.

"He was valued at $1 million as a yearling and is one of the best-looking Fastnet Rock colts I have ever seen. At his introductory fee of $13,750, there will be no better-value sire prospect retiring to stud in 2022.”

He joins fellow son of Fastnet Rock, Merchant Navy on the 2022 roster for Coolmore.

Short but spectacular career

Having been retained by Coolmore after passing in through the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, Acrobat entered the stables of Maher and Eustace and made his first public appearance in a Randwick trial in late October 2020.

He placed in that hitout as well as a subsequent trial before making his debut in the Inglis Nursery. He was well-supported, rode outside the speed and cruised to a 2.3l success in a time not seen before by a 2-year-old at the venue. A measure of his dominance was that it was another 2.5l back to third.

“He floats across the ground, he has a beautiful mind and a good action, he’ll make a proper racehorse,” jockey James McDonald said after the Nursery.

Maher described him as 'a colt with enormous potential, one of the most naturally gifted 2-year-olds we have trained – a leading Golden Slipper contender.'

Unfortunately, injury prevented him getting back to the track and he has now been retired to join the famous roster at Coolmore Australia.

Coolmore’s Racing Manager Rob Archibald said his brief career demonstrated the pure class Acrobat had at his disposal.

“Not only did Acrobat break the Randwick 2-year-old track record, he also won this important pre-Christmas juvenile test in a faster time than Blue Diamond winner and now sire-sensation Extreme Choice,” Archibald said.

“By winning the Inglis Nursery in 56.02s, he also won in a faster time than Moir S. winner Wild Ruler, as well as Golden Slipper stars She Will Reign and Mossfun.

“Acrobat was always extremely natural and fast, from the day he was broken-in at Coolmore until his unfortunate career-ending accident at a time where he was one of the favourites for the Golden Slipper. There is no doubt in our minds that he would have reached great heights on the track and it is a great shame that he could not realise his immense potential.”

Coolmore announced last week that St Mark's Basilica (Fr), the five-time Group 1-winning son of Siyouni (Fr), will shuttle to Australia in 2022 at a fee of $44,000 (inc GST).