Cover image courtesy of Darley
Several stallion parades were held in Victoria on Thursday with many industry participants attending the Yulong, Darley and Lovatsville parades.
Yulong stands eight stallions
In 2024 Yulong will stand eight stallions led by 2020/21 Champion Sire Written Tycoon who was crowned the Australian Champion 2YO Sire in 2023/24. Grunt (NZ), Alabama Express and Pierata are emerging talents, while the unproven horses are Diatonic (Jpn), Lucky Vega (Ire), Panthalassa (Jpn) and Tagaloa. Both Lucky Vega and Tagaloa’s oldest crop have just turned two, while Diatonic’s oldest foals will be at the 2025 yearling sales. Panthalassa is new in 2024.
Will Stott from Inglis Victoria said, “The weather was exceptional today. I started at Yulong. All their horses look amazing, there’s something there for everyone. Written Tycoon looked fantastic for his age and he’s had a massive season on the track and in the ring. Pierata and Alabama Express look very exciting for Victoria. Lucky Vega looked amazing, as did Panthalassa especially given that he’s just come off the track. Grunt is off to a good start, a beautiful looking horse, and has some very exciting ones with Veight being a proper horse who will star in spring.”
“Written Tycoon looked fantastic for his age and he’s had a massive season on the track and in the ring. Pierata and Alabama Express look very exciting for Victoria.” - Will Stott
Matt Ennis from G1 Goldmine said, “One of the standouts so far would have to be Yulong’s Pierata. A son of Pierro, with 40 stakes winners, Pierata will cross well with Redoute’s Choice, Encosta De Lago, and Fastnet Rock mares. A great mating with the many Danehill mares also.”
“Definitely the standout from Yulong was Alabama Express,” said Charlotte Littlefield of Hayfields Racing. “He’s breathtaking, the most divine looking stallion and keeps getting better every year.”
Charlotte Littlefield | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Claudia Miller, Sales and Bloodstock Manager at Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing, spoke fondly of Alabama Express and Grunt. “Loved Grunt at Yulong, he looked amazing. We haven’t had a huge number of his progeny through the stable, and he really impressed me. Alabama Express looked great, he’s an old favourite, as we have Shangri La Express by him and a couple of young ones.”
Darley Northwood a mix of proven and new
At Darley Victoria, the eight strong line up consists of proven stallions Blue Point (Ire), Brazen Beau, Kermadec (NZ), and Street Boss (USA), while the young guns are Cylinder, Ghaiyyath (Ire), Golden Mile and Paulele. Ghaiyyath’s oldest crop in Australia have just turned two, while Paulele’s first foals are due this spring. Cylinder and Golden Mile are new in 2024.
“At Darley, I’m a big fan of Cylinder. If you want to breed a 2-year-old and a sales horse, he’s very exciting. Brazen Beau, Kermadec both look good, and Golden Mile is an impressive type. I loved seeing Street Boss. It’s cool to see older horses who have made an impact with a star like Anamoe, very cool to have horses who have left a champion and I get to see (the star’s) sire,” said Stott.
Will Stott | Image courtesy of Inglis
“At Darley we loved Ghaiyyath. He had so many dapples, and I have a feeling there are going to be a lot more of them around. They’ll be the classic 3-year-olds, probably not designed to go early, but he’s an absolute specimen, he’s elite. I’ve got one in our stable, he’s a very nice horse, really catching the eye. Very much a classic type,” said Littlefield. “Of the new stallions at Darley, we did like Cylinder. We were surprised by him, he still needs to let down a bit and will look sensational next year, really loved his attitude and he will develop into a nice sprinting stallion.”
“At Darley, Paulele was a standout, I thought he looked really well, a bit more of a European type. Brazen beau, and Street Boss too. Both farms presented brilliantly, great parades,” said Miller who only attended the Yulong Farm and Darley Stud parades.
Claudia Miller
Exciting times at Lovatsville
Lovatsville’s lineup for 2024 features four stallions, led by Royal Meeting (Ire) whose first crop included G1 Blue Diamond winner Hayasugi. Fierce Impact (Jpn)’s first crop have just turned two, while Generation and Gold Trip (Fr) are new in 2024.
“At Lovatsville, they all look great. Generation is a well-bred horse, an expensive yearling who has appeal. Gold Trip is a very cool horse, he’s a unique prospect and lot of people have a soft spot for him, and at the price I don’t see how you couldn’t make money breeding to him if you got a decent type. Royal Meeting is a pretty exciting young stallion to get a Blue Diamond winner in his first crop. The investment from his ownership group in nice mares has been very good too,” said Stott.
Generation will stand for $11,000 inc GST in 2024 | Standing at Lovatsville, image courtesy of Inglis
Magic Millions' Victoria and Tasmania Manager, Tim Brown summed up the whole day with a short and sweet message. “Native Trail and Generation were the two new horses I like, both good racehorses, good looking and good movers. Of the rest, Alabama Express, Royal Meeting, and Street Boss. He’s a time-honoured horse who does a good job and is consistent.”
