Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy

Group 1-winning sprinter Jonker becomes the first son of Champion Queensland sire Spirit Of Boom to retire to stud.

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Aquis - Jonker

Jonker enjoyed a brilliant career on the track, notching five wins, including a Group 1, and eight minor placings from 30 starts, for earnings in excess of $2 million.

Aquis’ Director of Sales, Jonathan Davies told TDN AusNZ, he was taken aback when he inspected Jonker and simply had to add him to the roster.

“We’ve been bursting at the seams to announce this horse to the public,” Davies said.

“He’s a beautiful horse. He really fills the eye as soon as you see him, he’s got a lot of quality about him and a really good presence," said Davies. “He’s got a beautiful hip and shoulder, but he’s just so incredibly well balanced.

“I can’t say enough positive things about the horse.

“When I went to inspect him, I came away absolutely blown away by the horse; I had to have him, I just had to have him. I love the horse.”

Group 1 glory

In October last year, the Tony Gollan-trained Jonker notched his first Group 1 triumph when he led all the way in the Manikato S. at The Valley under Daniel Moor.

The beaten brigade include Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai), Ingratiating (Frosted {USA}), Away Game (Snitzel) and Streets Of Avalon (Magnus).

Davies said Jonker’s Manikato triumph was something to behold.

“His toughness was really on display that night. He did a power of work to get across to the lead and he fended off all challengers,” Davies explained.

“It was a blistering display of sustained speed and a very gutsy victory.

“Obviously, it was a Group 1, but just the way he won that race was really career-defining.”

Gollan was also full of praise for Jonker, saying post-race: “He wasn’t great away, did a mountain of work and was still there fighting at the finish. The others all had their chances. He’s been an incredible horse for all of his connections. He’s had three runs in Group 1s for us for a first, second and third and he’s broken a track record in Brisbane and won a feature on Magic Millions Day.”

In the same year as his Manikato success, Jonker won the $1 million Magic Millions Snippets on the Gold Coast, before running third in the G1 The Galaxy behind multiple Group 1-winning sprinter Eduardo (Host {Chi}), and second behind Vega One (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) in the G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup.

Underlying his durability, Jonker won a 900-metere event at Newcastle on debut as a 2-year-old in 2017 and was placed in the G2 Run To The Rose as a 3-year-old.

Jonker joined the Gollan stable in 2020 and immediately made an impression, breaking the Doomben 1200-metre track record in winning the Listed BRC Keith Noud Quality by 4.5l. After jumping from a wide barrier, he led all the way, stopping the clock at a blistering 1:07.83, bettering the previous record held by the great Takeover Target (Celtic Swing {GB}).

“He was a superior juvenile,” Davies added. “He competed against the best and was ultra-consistent during his career.”

A deep pedigree

Jonker is a son of the all-conquering Spirit Of Boom, who won a G1 Doomben 10,000 and G1 William Reid S.

Spirit Of Boom's sire, Sequalo, was a speed machine and held his own against some of Australia’s great sprinters; including Brawny Spirit (Rustin Amber {Ire}), Gold Ace and Strategic.

Spirit Of Boom is enjoying another stellar season at stud. He sits ninth on the list of 2-Year-Old Sires, with his juvenile progeny amassing 17 wins (from 12 winners) and two stakes wins, while he is 15th on the 3-Year-Old Sires' table and 17th on the overall Sires’ list.

Jonker’s grandam, Villa Igea (Papal Power {USA}), is the dam of two stakes winners, Fair Trade (Danewin) and Fiscal Fantasy (Skilled), and further back down the female line is blue hen Eight Carat (GB) (Pieces Of Eight {Ire}).

“His sireline is one of Australia’s elite sources of 2-year-old speed and Jonker is from a female family that works with a wide variety of pedigrees,” said Davies.

“His pedigree traces back to the Eight Carat family; she’s just a factory or high-class stallions.

“If you combine his pedigree with racetrack performance and his type, he’s a no-brainer, and I think, I might be biased, but I reckon he’s the best-priced first-season stallion in the country this year.”

Doug Crane, managing owner of Jonker, is confident his former star will make his mark at stud.

“Having met the team from Aquis Farm and perusing the facilities, we decided it was time for Jonker to go to a deserving home. He has provided us with some great times that will be missed but his lovely nature will ensure he enjoys his next stage in life which we can all enjoy being part of,” Crane said.

Eureka Stud will enter the upcoming breeding season with two exciting sires, headlined by Champion Queensland sire Spirit Of Boom and the blueblood son of Lonhro, Encryption.

Spirt Of Boom, the Queensland farm's flagbearer, has continued his solid success this season, with boom colt Jonker delivering a Group 1 victory in the Manikato S. and now announced to stand at Aquis Farm.

He also produced another three stakes winners this season, bringing his total to nine individual stakes winners and three individual million-dollar earners off his first crop $11,000 fee. In the sales ring this year his yearlings averaged over $200,000 at January's Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale - Book 1 and over $120,000 at all yearling sales so far, with 72 yearlings sold.

Two closely related yearlings sold for $440,000 and $400,000 apiece, a colt from the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale from Vinery Stud to Cliff Brown Racing out of the More Than Ready (USA) mare Meow, and a filly from the Magic Millions Yearling Sale out of a half-sister to Meow, Pure Purrfection (General Nediym) purchased by Tony Gollan, John Foote and Black Soil Bloodstock.

Mitchell Bloodstock (FBAA) also picked up a filly for $440,000 from Magic Millions, out of Twilight Song (Fastnet Rock), with the sale results giving a strong nod to the quality physical types off Spirit Of Boom’s higher service fee.

"It's great to see how the improved quality of mares are delivering such outstanding types and breeders are being rewarded for that in the ring," said Harry McAlpine.

"We know that Spirit Of Boom can throw elite juveniles that train on to be top sprinters, which is the model for an Australian stallion we are all looking for. Knowing he can leave a quality, commercial sale-type makes him a smart option to start a young mare off with a quality, proven cover, at a very reasonable fee.

"He's a special horse for us, and we are really excited about what the next few seasons will bring."

Spirit Of Boom will stand his ninth season at a fee of $33,000 (inc GST), the same fee as last season, down from the season prior at $44,000 (inc GST) and a high of $55,000 (inc GST) in 2018 after his sensational first crop.

First crop delight

Encryption, the son of Champions Lonhro and Guelph (Exceed And Excel), will stand his fourth stud season in 2022 after strong sale results from his first crop. His yearlings averaged almost $70,000 over all sales, with a top price of $250,000 for the colt from Commands mare Iridescente. Shareholders Godolphin also secured one out of the ring, purchasing a colt from Jennifer Juniper (Time Thief) for $160,000.

Encryption, a dual Group 2 winner will enter his fourth season at an unchanged service fee of $13,200 (inc GST) with payment on live foal, as a result of strong support during his first three seasons, covering 134, 135 and 120 mares respectively.

McAlpine expects another full book to await Encryption based on the quality of his first crop who were popular in the sale ring.

“He’s a very good-looking horse himself and he’s stamped a lot of his qualities into his progeny, they’ve got a good stance and good, natural movement. They were good commodities at the yearling sales, picked up by some of the smartest judges in the industry,” McAlpine said.

“He has a loyal breeder fan base, and we are hopeful that they’ll run early, as his types certainly indicate that physicality.”

Woodside Park had already announced in February that Vancouver had been purchased from Coolmore and would move to Victoria in 2022, and now fellow new recruit Delaware (GB) has added even more star power to the burgeoning lineup at Eddie Hirsch's Tylden property.

Currently the leading third-season sire in Australia in 2021/22, Vancouver will head the 2022 Woodside Park roster at a service fee of $15,400 (inc GST). Delaware will stand his first season at an introductory fee of $9900 (inc GST), while Foxwedge has been set at $11,000 (inc GST), Rich Enuff at $8800 (inc GST) and Tosen Stardom (Jpn) at $7700 (inc GST).

“The support the stallions received last season was extremely promising, with each covering quality books of mares in the first season under Eddie Hirsch’s ownership,” Woodside Park Stud’s Mark Dodemaide said.

“We’ve added a further two stallions to the roster this year in what is set to be a very exciting season for all at the farm. We all know the deeds of Golden Slipper winners at stud, and Vancouver brings not only victory in the world’s richest juvenile race, but also an exceptional pedigree.

“We’ve also added a fast son of what could potentially be one of the greatest sires we’ve seen, and Delaware has all the attributes that we feel will suit the local broodmare population.”

Record-breaking son of Frankel

Exciting new addition Delaware joins Kooringal Stud’s Last Kingdom (USA) as only the second son of Frankel at stud in Australia this year. A dazzling winner of all of his 14 starts including 10 at Group 1 level, Frankel has carried his all-conquering excellence into his stud career and became the fastest stallion in history to reach 50 individual Group winners.

Out of an Oasis Dream (GB) half-sister to Group 1 winners Proviso (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and Byword (GB) (Peintre Celebre {USA}), along with the Australian Group 1 placegetter Finche (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Delaware made a racetrack impact of his own with four wins in a career spread across France, the United States and Canada.

An impressive winner over 1200 metres at two-years-old for world-renowned trainer André Fabre, he took a big step forward in his 3-year-old season with two stakes successes including a highly impressive 3l romp in the G3 Prix Daphnis at Deauville.

Delaware then relocated across the Atlantic, where he added a slick win in the Listed Danger’s Hour S., recording a track-record time of 1:33.67 for a mile on Aqueduct’s turf track. He also picked up placings in the G3 Forbidden Apple S., Listed Artie Schiller S. and Listed Siren Lure S.

Vancouver hitting his straps

With three crops of racing age, Vancouver is enjoying his best season yet with 54 winners from 128 Australian runners and total prizemoney of over $4.4 million.

There have been four black-type performers this season, headed by Vangelic, who won the G2 Golden Pendant and placed in the G2 Guy Walter S., G2 Emancipation S. and The Golden Eagle.

Overpass won the G2 Expressway S. and Inglis 3YO Sprint, while Canadian Dancer won the Listed Princess S. in Brisbane and Night Raid added another Listed placing to her two stakes wins in the 2020/21 season.

Overall, Vancouver has sired 157 winners from 270 runners, including nine individual stakes winners.

A well-credentialled supporting cast

Backing up the two new recruits, there is also no shortage of credentials among the three other members of Woodside Park Stud’s five-strong 2022 stallion lineup.

Foxwedge, a G1 William Reid S.- winning son of Champion Sire Fastnet Rock, has made his mark at stud with 24 stakes winners including Group 1 stars Volpe Veloce, Foxplay, Run Fox Run, Lunar Fox and Urban Fox (GB).

Gallery: Other stallions standing at Woodside Park Stud in 2022

Rich Enuff is the highest-rated son of Written Tycoon (Timeform rating 125) and has quickly racked up 73 winners from 107 runners to date, headed by stakes winners Dosh and Plutocrat.

Tosen Stardom is a dual Australian Group 1-winning son of multiple Champion Japanese Sire Deep Impact (Jpn), whose global influence was felt yet again on Australian shores last Saturday with the win by Glint Of Hope (Jpn) in the G1 Australasian Oaks at Morphettville.

All of Tosen Stardom’s Group 1 form came between the ages of four and seven, and his oldest progeny will be 3-year-olds next season.

Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy

State Of Rest (Ire) will look to enhance his already glittering CV before retiring to stud, with multiple options being considered by trainer Joseph O’Brien and connections.

The reigning Cox Plate hero returned to racing in the €300,000 (AU$450,000) G1 Prix Ganay (2100 metres) in France in the early hours of Monday morning (Australia time), and the son of Starspangledbanner, who is raced by Australia’s Newgate Farm and partners, was brilliant, winning by 0.75l after a torrid run.

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The victory is State Of Rest’s third consecutive Group 1 win in three continents, having won the Saratoga Derby Invitational (1900 metres) and Cox Plate (2040 metres) prior to his stunning performance at Longchamp.

Newgate Farm's Henry Field told TDN AusNZ that State Of Rest could return to Melbourne in the spring to defend his Cox Plate crown, but before that, the entire will contest the Tattersalls Gold Cup – a 2000-metre weight for age Group 1 event at The Curragh in Ireland on May 22.

“It was great, he’s a bloody good horse,” Field said.

“A good operator in the know told me that if he wins the Tattersalls Gold Cup he may well be the first horse to win four Group 1s in four different countries in a row, so that would be an incredible achievement.

“There’s so many options, but his next two runs will more than likely be the Tattersalls and then the (G1) Prince Of Wales’s S. (at Royal Ascot on June 15).

“The Prince Of Wales's is more than likely, then he could possibly come back for a tilt at the Cox Plate later in the year where he will be much better weighted and be a stronger horse, or he could go to the Breeders’ Cup (in America in November).”

Buoyed by a bullish trainer

Wherever State Of Rest heads, Field is extremely confident the horse can add to his Group 1 tally.

And that confidence stems from the trainer.

“It’s probably no surprise to anyone that Joseph (O’Brien) feels he’s probably his number one draft pick in his stable for the 2022 racing season in Europe, which is a big statement considering how powerful Joseph’s stable is,” said Field.

“More than likely he’ll race through until the end of the season, then retire to (Ireland’s) Rathbarry Stud early next year and then Newgate in the spring.”

Sharing the ride

Newgate and a long list of Australian partners bought into State Of Rest, along with Ireland’s Rathbarry Stud, in the aftermath of his thrilling Cox Plate triumph, where he touched off Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}), who was carrying seven kilos less, in a thrilling two-horse war.

“His performance in the Cox Plate… being very badly weighted against another 3-year-old in Anamoe, who is likely to be our 3-year-old champion in Australia, was excellent,” Field said.

“And then you have a champion in Verry Elleegant back in third and the classy Mo’unga in fourth, so it was a very strong Cox Plate.

“He’s really vindicating that Cox Plate win with a performance in a very historic Group 1 in France, the Prix Ganay.

“And, also being a Group 1 winner in Saratoga already, I think he’s a very exciting horse for our ownership group.”

Among the large list of shareholders is China Horse Club, Wilf and Rosemary Mula, Matthew Sandblom, Silverdale Farm/Grant Bloodstock, Dorrington Farm, Duncan and Di Grimley and Glenlogan Park Stud.

“We’re very happy that he’s managed to win three in a row, and we’re lucky enough to have purchased the horse with Rathbarry Stud in Ireland. They’re very shrewd operators, and when they were keen to make a play on the horse, we were keen to join them in that bid,” Field explained.

“I admire them; they probably took a bigger risk than us; the horse was not already a Group 1 winner in France when they bought in. They’re highly intelligent, well-informed operators and they knew the opinion and level of ability the good judges had about State Of Rest.

“We’ve got a very strong contingent of shareholders in the horse; we pulled together with some of Australia’s leading breeders to buy into the horse. It’s a very powerful syndicate.

“Certainly, I think the investment is going to be vindicated.”

Field said good friend Nick Williams was instrumental in the purchase of State Of Rest.

“What gave us confidence is Nick and Lloyd Williams, who are very close with the O’Briens and one of Joseph’s biggest owners… Nick was so bullish about the horse, he kept telling me that Joseph kept banging the drum about how good this horse was coming down to the Cox Plate,” Field remarked.

A point of difference

Newgate Farm has traditionally been home to stallions with a sprinting pedigree; among them Deep Field, Capitalist and Extreme Choice.

Field claims it is exciting to have a stallion on the roster that offers something different.

“He’s a bit different to the sort of horse we’ve had historically. We’d been waiting for that mile, mile and a quarter horse that was right out of the box and something a bit special and we think we’ve found him in State Of Rest, so we’re feeling good about it,” he said.

Sharing Field’s excitement is Steve Grant, owner of Grant Bloodstock at Silverdale Farm. Asked if he stayed up to watch the Prix Ganay, Grant said: “Bloody oath, I wouldn’t miss it for quids. He’s something special. Oh my word, he was three-wide for so long.”

Grant has been in the game a long time. He bought his first broodmare in 1980, and has been hooked ever since. He’s enjoyed many highs, including breeding and raising this year’s G1 Golden Slipper S. heroine Fireburn (Rebel Dane).

He admits State Of Rest’s Prix Ganay victory is right up with there with his best moments in the sport.

“This is building up to something really exciting, this is. It’s getting pretty special,” he described.

Owner-breeder Wilf Mula is another longtime participant revelling in the deeds of State Of Rest. He too cheered on State Of Rest from his loungeroom.

“Absolutely, I watched him. I’ve got a bit of a sore throat from yelling at the television,” he laughed.

What an exciting animal. What I like about him is the fact he’s so brutal, he’s got that will to win.

“He should be a good chance in that Group 1 at The Curragh.”

Mula has been associated with nine Group 1 winners; including Flying Artie, Artorius (Flying Artie), Dundeel (NZ), Roman Emperor and Rock Classic (Fastnet Rock).

“I’ve had a fair run, some great success… this has got to be up there with Flying Artie’s Coolmore Stud S. win (in 2016),” Mula said.