Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
It was another memorable season across Australian racetracks, filled with stellar performances. The efforts of Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. at Randwick stand out, while Te Akau Racing's now-retired Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) was sensational in the sprinting ranks. In Thursday's edition of The Thoroughbred Report, we reflect on the Australian season that was!
Champion Australian General Sire
Yarraman Park Stud’s I Am Invincible has been crowned the Champion Australian General Sire for the third time. 'Vinnie' was represented by 175 individual winners of 290 races from 375 runners. His progeny amassed a total of $32,117,645 in prizemoney, with 15 individual stakes winners across 29 stakes races.
I Am Invincible’s standout performer, Imperartiz, contributed $5,262,825 to his sire's earnings and was retired from racing earlier this year, and was sold for $6.6 million to Zhijun Zhao at this year’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
I Am Invincible | Standing at Yarraman Stud
Other star performers include the Group 1-winning colt Move To Strike, the dual Group 2 winner Tiz Invincible, the G2 Missile S. winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter I Am Me, King’s Gambit, who claimed the G2 Roman Consul S., and the exciting Estriella and Bodyguard, both Group 3 winners.
The Yarraman Park Stud-based champion also led the way in the Leading Australian General Sires by Stakes Wins.
Finishing behind ‘Vinnie’ on the Leading Australian General Sires table were Widden Stud’s Zoustar ($23,955,179) and Coolmore’s So You Think ($21,265,152).
Champion Australian First Season Sire
This season's first-season sires were exceptionally strong, but only one can be crowned Champion Australian First Season Sire, and that honour goes to Darley’s Too Darn Hot (GB). The son of Dubawi (Ire) is the first British-bred stallion to achieve this title, although he will not be returning to the Southern Hemisphere for the upcoming season.
Too Darn Hot was represented by 12 individual winners of 18 races from 41 runners. His progeny earned a total of $4,151,305, with his standout performer, Broadsiding, contributing $1,944,675. Broadsiding claimed the G1 Champagne S., the G1 JJ Atkins, the G2 Sires’ Produce S., and the Listed Fernhill H. He is joined by Arabian Summer, who won the Listed Magic Millions National 2YO Classic, the Ballarat Magic Millions 2YO Classic, and the Gold Pearl on the Gold Coast.
Too Darn Hot | Standing at Darley
Other notable stakes performers include Too Darn Lizzie, Superalloy, Silmarillion, and Trembles. Too Darn Hot excelled in all categories except for individual stakes winners, where Yulong’s Pierata and Vinery’s Exceedance were equal on stakes winners. However, Pierata’s progeny accumulated more prizemoney.
Finishing behind Too Darn Hot on the Leading Australian First Season Sires’ table was Newgate Farm’s Tassort, who sired the Group 1 winner Manaal, with $2,159,935 in prizemoney. Pierata rounded out the top three with $1,917,525.
Champion Australian Second Season Sire
Widden Stud's Trapeze Artist has been crowned Australia’s Leading Second Season Sire. The son of Snitzel sired 45 individual winners of 66 races from 112 starts, amassing progeny prizemoney of $6,605,286. Among his three stakes winners is the G1 Caulfield Guineas victor, Griff.
Trapeze Artist | Standing at Widden
Following closely in second place is Arrowfield's The Autumn Sun, who sired 45 individual winners of 70 races from 96 runners, with total progeny earnings of $6,156,089. The Autumn Sun produced four stakes winners, three of which were Group 1 victors, headlined by the G1 Australian Oaks winner, Autumn Angel.
Notably, The Autumn Sun is the Leading Australian Second Season Sire by both stakes winners and wins. However, the son of Redoute's Choice will miss the upcoming season as he recovers from a pelvic injury sustained in the paddock.
Champion Australian Broodmare Sire
Champion stallion Fastnet Rock, retired this season by Coolmore, has made history by securing his first Champion Australian Broodmare Sire title.
Over the last three seasons, Fastnet Rock had finished fourth, sixth, and fifth, but the achievements of his daughters this season have propelled him to the top. He has wrested the title away from the late Redoute’s Choice and Encosta De Lago, who had dominated the category in recent years.
Fastnet Rock | Image courtesy of Coolmore
Daughters of Fastnet Rock produced 319 individual winners of 496 races from 699 runners. This included 19 individual stakes winners of 32 stakes races, with total prizemoney exceeding $36,965,822.
Leading the charge was the G1 Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon), out of Fastnet Rock’s daughter Miss Debutante. Other Group 1 winners this season from Fastnet Rock's daughters include Zougotcha (Zoustar), Joliestar (Zoustar), Climbing Star (Zoustar), and Veight (Grunt {NZ}).
Finishing behind Fastnet Rock in second place was his former Coolmore Stud barnmate, Encosta De Lago ($31,561,581), followed by the late Street Cry (Ire), who stood under the Darley banner, with earnings of $26,365,003.
Champion Australian 2-Year-Old Sire
Yulong's Champion Sire, Written Tycoon, has added a second Champion Australian 2-Year-Old Sire title to his impressive list of achievements. The son of Iglesia first won the title in 2016 when Capitalist claimed the G1 Golden Slipper. Fast forward to 2024, and Written Tycoon celebrated a second G1 Golden Slipper winner with his Go Bloodstock-bred daughter, Lady Of Camelot.
Overall, Written Tycoon sired 19 individual 2-year-old winners of 21 races from 51 starters, with total prizemoney exceeding $5,083,535. His Australian stakes winners included Lady Of Camelot and Althoff, with an additional three stakes performers: Kuroyanagi, Satin Stiletto, and Supercilious. Promising types such as First Settler, Media World, Public Attention, and Sovereign Hill also contributed to his stellar season.
Written Tycoon | Standing at Yulong
First-season sire Too Darn Hot made a significant impression with his first runners in the Southern Hemisphere, securing the title of Champion First Season Sire and earning a podium position on the General Sires' Premiership.
Justify (USA), another sire who will not return to Australia this season, sits in third place with $2,958,385 in earnings, the majority of which was contributed by his outstanding son, Storm Boy.
Champion Australian 3-Year-Old Sire
Even by his usual high standards, Zoustar had a sensational season. The Widden Stud-based stallion will be crowned Australian Champion 3-Year-Old Sire. Zoustar was represented by 65 individual 3-year-old winners of 110 races from 106 starts. These included six stakes winners of 11 stakes races, with total prizemoney amounting to $9,441,608.
Zoustar | Standing at Widden
His daughter Joliestar won the G1 Thousand Guineas in the spring and returned in the autumn to claim the G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint. His recently retired son, Ozzmosis, was brilliant in the G1 Coolmore Stud S., emulating his sire, grandsire, and great grandsire. Other stakes winners for Zoustar included Schwarz, Mumbai Muse, and Xikadi.
Sitting in second place was Arrowfield’s Dundeel (NZ) with $9,249,865 in prizemoney, followed by I Am Invincible with $6,618,620.
Champion Australian Jockey
Western Australia-based hoop William Pike was the overall winner of Australia’s Champion Jockey title. Pike rode 172.5 winners from 680 rides, striking at 25.40 per cent and earning a total of $8,869,198 in prizemoney.
Queensland-based James Orman followed closely, riding 160.5 winners from 854 mounts. Victoria-based Damian Lane finished third with 155.5 winners and also claimed the Victorian Jockeys’ Premiership.
William Pike | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
James McDonald won the Australian Metropolitan Championship with 115 winners and a staggering $36,213,550 in prizemoney.
The Australian Provincial Jockeys’ Premiership was taken out by Emily Lang, who rode 78 winners with prizemoney of $1,891,420. Finally, Aaron Bullock was crowned the Champion Australian Country Jockeys’ Premiership victor, with 110 winners and prizemoney totalling $2,592,150.
Champion Australian Trainer
Similar to last season, the battle for the overall Champion Australian Trainer title came down to Ciaron Maher (minus David Eustace) and Chris Waller. Maher once again managed to hold out the Sydney-based champion.
Maher trained 342 winners from 2,238 starters, achieving a strike rate of 15.30 per cent and earning $51,453,130 in prizemoney. His stable was represented by the triple Group 1 winner Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai), and another daughter of Pride Of Dubai, Bella Nipotina, who won two Group 1s. Additionally, Maher trained G1 Queensland Oaks victress Socks Nation (Sioux Nation {USA}) and Griff (Trapeze Artist), who won the G1 Caulfield Guineas. Maher was also successful in the Australian Country Trainers’ Premiership with 131 winners.
Ciaron Maher | Image courtesy of Inglis
Waller trained 291 winners from 2,182 starters, with a strike rate of 13.30 per cent and prizemoney close behind Maher at $51,610,300. However, Waller was back on top in the Australian Metropolitan Trainers’ Premiership, with 225 winners from 1,745 starters.
The Rosehill-based horseman was also responsible for the most Group 1 winners trained this season, totalling 12. Followed by James Cummings on seven, and Maher on six.
The Sunshine Coast-based Stuart Kendrick was the winner of the Australian Provincial Trainers’ Premiership. Kendrick trained 87 winners from 418 starters, resulting in a strike rate of 20.80 per cent and prizemoney of $2,131,460.
Champion Group 1-winning horse
It was the now-retired Tangerine Queen, Imperatriz, who dominated the Group 1 landscape, particularly in the sprints. The Mark Walker-trained daughter of I Am Invincible, claimed five Group 1 victories: The G1 Moir S., the G1 William Reid S., the G1 Lightning S., the G1 Champions Sprint and the G1 Manikato S.
Imperatriz | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Champion Vendor (at Australian sales)
Henry Field’s Newgate Farm will retain the Champion Vendor title, having sold $58,509,500 worth of stock across the Australian sales season. Contributing significantly to this total, the 2024 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale accounted for $19,459,000.
Newgate Farm | Image courtesy of Newgate Farm
Coolmore Stud secured the second position, amassing $47,108,000. This includes a remarkable performance at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where it sold the first foal, a filly, from Champion mare Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) by Pierro for $10 million, contributing to a total of $27,765,000.
Champion Australian Breeder
Darley-bred runners claimed seven Group 1 victories in the 2023/24 season, all trained by Godolphin’s Head Trainer, James Cummings. In the spring, Zardozi (Kingman {GB}) was successful in the G1 VRC Oaks, while Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {GB}) claimed the G1 Spring Champion S.
James Cummings | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
In the autumn, the now-retired trio Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), Cylinder, and Zapateo (Brazen Beau) added further Group 1s. Cascadian secured back-to-back victories in the G1 Australian Cup. Also, at Flemington, Cylinder emulated his sire Exceed And Excel by winning the G1 Newmarket H. The classy mare Zapateo achieved a well-deserved Group 1 success in the G1 The Galaxy.
Godolphin’s Broadsiding added the G1 Champagne S. and the G1 JJ Atkins S. to Darley’s haul, rounding off an impressive season.
Zoustar: history maker!
As mentioned earlier, Widden Stud’s Zoustar has had a fantastic season. He finished second to I Am Invincible in the Australian General Sires’ Premiership by earnings. Although, Zoustar topped the Leading Australian General Sires’ list by individual winners and total wins. This season, he sired 208 individual winners, equalling I Am Invincible’s record from 2021.
However, Zoustar broke I Am Invincible’s record for total race wins, with his 208 winners resulting in 363 victories, surpassing ‘Vinnie’s’ previous record of 338 wins in a season. Additionally, Zoustar sired 17 stakes winners of 27 stakes races, including four Group 1 winners.
