Cover image courtesy of Arrowfield
Arrowfield Stud's iconic brand is not only widely recognised but also synonymous with success on the Australian turf. As one of the largest operations in the country, Arrowfield Stud has earned its prominent position through consistent excellence, particularly as a prolific source of black type winners.
Arrowfield Stud has bred 82 stakes winners over the past decade, averaging 16 per season.
Arrowfield Stud-bred stock boasts an impressive record with 26 Group 1 wins over the past 10 seasons.
Snitzel is the leading sire of Arrowfield Stud stakes-winning graduates, accounting for 32 per cent, while Not A Single Doubt and Redoute’s Choice contribute 11 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively.
Redoute’s Choice emerges as the top broodmare sire for Arrowfield Stud, with his daughters responsible for 13 per cent of all stakes winners bred on the farm over the past 10 years.
Over the past decade, Arrowfield Stud has bred an impressive total of 82 stakes winners at an average of 16 stakes winners per season, emphasising its sustained excellence and influence in the racing industry.
Breeding excellence
Arrowfield Stud continues to build on its successful legacy having already bred the winners of 13 stakes races at the current point in the racing calendar. A notable highlight occurred on last Saturday’s G1 Randwick Guineas day marking a special day for the Scone-based nursery.
During this eventful day, Arrowfield Stud bred the winners of almost a quarter of the 14 stakes races held across Australia. This includes the noteworthy achievements of three stakes winners including the G1 Randwick Guineas winner Celestial Legend (Dundeel {NZ}), G2 Todman S. winner Switzerland (Snitzel), and Autumn Angel (The Autumn Sun), the G2 Kewney S. winner at Flemington.
| Group 1 | 26 |
| Group 2 | 23 |
| Group 3 | 50 |
| Listed | 49 |
| Restricted Listed | 6 |
Table: Arrowfield Stud bred stakes wins by class 2014-2024
This season’s impressive statistics are no fluke. Arrowfield Stud's brand has been featured on the near-side shoulders of an impressive 154 individual stakes race wins over the past decade. The stud's influence extends across all classes and racing conditions, with its brand associated with the success of horses in some of the country’s most prestigious races including the G1 Blue Diamond S., G1 Randwick Guineas, G1 Golden Rose, and G1 Caulfield Guineas.
Over the past 10 seasons, Arrowfield Stud has been responsible for an outstanding 26 Group 1 wins. The most successful Group 1 winner from Arrowfield is The Autumn Sun, who achieved a remarkable five Group 1 victories during his career. Hitotsu and Shoals (Fastnet Rock) each secured three top-tier victories, while Castlevecchio concluded his career as a two-time Group 1 winner before retiring to his birthplace.
Breed shaping sires
Arrowfield Stud's rich history and influential role in shaping the Australian breeding landscape is highlighted by its success in launching the careers of renowned stallions. The stud's legacy began with the breed-shaping shuttle sire Danehill (USA), and it has since continued to foster Champion Sires such as Redoute’s Choice, Flying Spur, Not A Single Doubt and Snitzel.
The stud's reputation for producing elite sires is not only based on its historical achievements but also on the on-going success of its current and former stallions. A total of 14 Arrowfield stock that have won stakes races in the past decade have gone on to become stallions at stud. This includes the stud's very own Group 1-winning stallions Castelvecchio, Hitotsu and The Autumn Sun, showcasing Arrowfield's ability to produce top-tier talent with lasting impact. Remarkably, four of its eight stallion roster were born and raised on the farm. The mention of outside stallions like Super Seth further emphasises the stud's influence beyond its own roster, as it continues to contribute to the breeding success of horses that have originated from Arrowfield.
| Snitzel | 26 |
| Redoute's Choice | 8 |
| Not A Single Doubt | 9 |
| Maurice | 7 |
| Manhattan Rain | 4 |
| Dundeel | 3 |
Table: Arrowfield's stakes winners by sire 2014 - 2024
While Snitzel is by far the leading sire of Arrowfield Stud stakes-winning graduates, a total of 25 unique stallions are represented. Sntizel is the sire of 32 per cent of Arrowfield Stud’s stakes winners, while Not A Single Doubt and his sire Redoute’s Choice account for 11 per cent and 10 per cent respectively. Stakes-winning progeny by Snitzel raised at Arrowfield Stud account for 23 per cent of his 112 stakes winners since 2014, while seven of the nine Australian stakes winners by Maurice (Jpn) in this period were born and raised on the farm.
The legacy continues
It’s no surprise to see four-time Champion Broodmare Sire Redoute’s Choice at the top of the tables for Arrowfield Stud-bred stakes winners by damsire. With 53 individual broodmare sires represented, Redoute’s Choice’s daughters are responsible for 13 per cent of all stakes winners bred on the farm in the past 10 years.
Imported by Messara from Chile in 2003, former Champion sire Hussonet (USA) is remembered as the sire of 30 individual Group 1 winners. An exceptional producer of elite talent, Hussonet is not only remembered for his direct descendants but has proved an almost perfect match with Danehill line mares. With the exception of full siblings Shoals (Fastnet Rock) and Groundswell (Fastnet Rock), all seven Arrowfield Stud bred stakes winners from daughters of Hussonet are sired either by Redoute’s Choice himself or his sire sons.
| Redoute's Choice | 11 |
| Hussonet | 7 |
| Dehere | 3 |
| Starcraft | 3 |
| Encosta De Lago | 3 |
| Street Cry | 2 |
Table: Arrowfield Stud's stakes winners by broodmare sires 2024-2024
Arrowfield Stud is gearing up for an exciting Autumn season, marked by the presence of the well-fancied G1 Golden Slipper contender, Switzerland, and the emergence of one of the country's most exciting 3-year-olds in Celestial Legend. The stud's prominence as one of Australia's leading nurseries of equine talent is set to be further solidified as these promising contenders hit their strides on the racetrack.
