When Astern was retired to stud in the autumn of 2017, Darley Australia quite rightly had very high hopes for the son of Medaglia D’Oro (USA), who would stand alongside his sire.
Astern was a crack colt, winning five of his nine starts, including the 2016 G1 Golden Rose. The then 3-year-old treated his rivals with contempt that day, posting an arrogant 2.3l victory under James McDonald. The beaten brigade contained Omei Sword (High Chaparral {Ire}), stablemate Impending, Divine Prophet and Yankee Rose (All American).
Astern when racing | Standing at Darley, image courtesy of Sportpix
Not only was he a star on the track, Astern boasts a pedigree to match. His dam, Essaouira (Exceed And Excel), won by 6l on debut at two, before being unplaced in her second and final start. She has made a huge mark as a broodmare, throwing Astern, as well as triple Group 1 winner Alizee (Sepoy). Astern’s grandam is Group 2 winner Alizes (NZ) (Rory’s Jester), his third dam is Group 1 victress La Baraka (Euclase), while his fourth dam is the brilliant Triscay (Marscay) – a winner of five Group 1s.
From his first crop of 116 foals, 41 individual winners combined for 58 wins. That crop produced two stakes winners – Seradess and Danger Strykes (NZ).
The two subsequent seasons yielded a combined 32 individual winners and 47 wins, however, the jury was out whether Astern was going to make the grade.
Gallery: Astern's first-crop stakes winners
Since then, Astern has had two stakes winners in America having shuttled to Darley's Jonabell in Kentucky - Sail By (USA) and Oxymore (USA) – while locally, Aft Cabin and Golden Mile have both won at Group 3 level this month and look destined for Group 1 glory.
Astern is a sire on fire, with three winners – Golden Mile, Aft Cabin and Brigantine – from his past 13 runners (across six meetings) – at a strike rate of 23 per cent. He currently sits 21st on this season’s Leading Australia General Sires’ list, with eight winners and nine wins (from 31 runners), for stakes amassing $762,823.
All of a sudden, he looks tremendous value at a fee of $11,000 (inc GST).
Gallery: Astern's recent Australian stakes winners
Alastair Pulford - Darley Australia’s head of stallions – told TDN AusNZ he’s unsure why Astern’s progeny have taken until now to jump out of the ground, but he’s mighty pleased they are.
“Absolutely, it’s very pleasing,” Pulford said.
“To have those two colts, Golden Mile and Aft Cabin, who look like two of the best 3-year-old colts of the spring at this stage, even though it’s still early days… they’re very exciting animals.
“To have those two colts, Golden Mile and Aft Cabin, who look like two of the best 3-year-old colts of the spring at this stage, even though it’s still early days… they’re very exciting animals.” - Alastair Pulford
“From his first crop, Godolphin had Brigantine and he’s a pretty decent horse; he won again on Saturday. From his second crop, we’ve got 10 in the system now and of those 10, two are obviously top-drawer and there’s a couple of others with good ability, according to the stable.
“Street Cry... in his first Australian crop didn’t have a stakes winner, then in his second Australian crop he had (dual Group 1 winner) Whobegotyou, (Melbourne Cup hero) Shocking and (Group 2 winner) Predatory Pricer, and Shocking only came along in the autumn of his 3-year-old career.
“Astern is following a similar path.”
Brigantine winning at Randwick | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
As history shows, former Darley-based stallion Street Cry (Ire), who died in 2014, sired 17 Grade 1 winners in the Northern Hemisphere, including the great Zenyatta (USA). In nine seasons shuttling to Australia, Street Cry produced (to date) 445 winners, including 49 stakes winners, from 561 runners. Among his Australian Group 1 champions are Winx, Long John, Shocking, Whobegotyou, Pride Of Dubai and Trekking.
“It’s not that uncommon for horses to have these results in their second and third crop. Redoute’s Choice was on a higher level, because he got Lotteria and Not A Single Doubt from his first crop, but his second crop was unbelievable, with Stratum, Snitzel, God’s Own and Undoubtedly. His first crop was good, but his second crop was brilliant. So, it’s not unheard of by any means,” Pulford added.
“Maybe it’s a case of people working out how to mate them, but I don’t know, it’s one of the mysteries of breeding.”
Alastair Pulford and Steve Davis | Image courtesy of Darley
A future full of hope and optimism
Following Saturday’s 3.5l demolition job in the G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400 metres), Aft Cabin, who is a three-quarter brother to stakes winners Multaja (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) and Veranillo (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), boasts a record of two wins and two seconds from his four starts, with prizemoney totalling $256,800.
The James Cummings-trained colt is a pronounced favourite for the October 8 G1 Caulfield Guineas (1600 metres), which carries a prize purse of $3 million and is considered one of Australia’s leading stallion-making races.
Golden Mile, meanwhile, is out of the stakes-winning mare Calaverite (Lonhro), who is a half-sister to Group 2 winners Gold Fever (NZ) (Savabeel) and Gold Rush (NZ) (So You Think {NZ}). The colt is a two-time winner and relished the rise to 1400 metres last start in the G3 Ming Dynasty Quality, posting a hugely impressive 3.25l victory.
He is set for a showdown with Godolphin stablemate In Secret (I Am Invincible) in Saturday’s $1 million G1 Golden Rose at Rosehill.
A Group 1 triumph for either or both Astern colts would obviously do wonders for their respective breeding careers, and a maiden top company success for their sire would enhance his commercial appeal enormously.
“He (Astern) will rise up the ranks significantly (if he was to get a Group 1). Any horse that can do that deserves recognition from the buying public and I’m sure they will want to be looking at him seriously,” Pulford commented.
“He (Astern) will rise up the ranks significantly (if he was to get a Group 1). Any horse that can do that deserves recognition from the buying public and I’m sure they will want to be looking at him seriously.” - Alastair Pulford
“If the buyers want them, the breeders will breed them, that’s market economics.
“It’s all about winning the best races, so if he can throw the winners of those races, the market’s going to sit up and take notice.
“They both look like Group 1 prospects, but they’ve still got to step up and do it. They certainly are high-class 3-year-olds who are going to keep getting better; that’s the thing about the Medaglia D’Oro line, they’re not one-hit wonders, they will be progressive.”
Results speak for themselves
Pulford said Astern will cover “a decent size book again this season”, admitting interest in the stallion has increased off the back of Aft Cabin and Golden Mile, in particular.
“His book is building now, obviously these two horses have made people sit up and pay attention,” he said. “The phone has been running hot, pretty much since last weekend.
“He represents tremendous value.
Astern will stand for $11,000 (inc GST) this season | Standing at Darley
“Like plenty of stallions before him, if you hang in there and if the market hangs in there… look at Not A Single Doubt and Written Tycoon, a lot of stallions have proven patience is often rewarded. And he’s still only nine, so he’s got a good life ahead of him.
“Two crops is not many; his first crop have just turned four and his second have just turned three. One thing his progeny has proven is they’re not early 2-year-olds, but that doesn’t really matter. If they’re throwing good horses, the market will soon want to buy them.”
