Cover image courtesy of Darley

Over the past two weekends of juvenile racing, Australia has witnessed Street Boss (USA) sire both G2 Todman Stakes winner Tentyris and G2 Resiling Stakes winner Tempted, Too Darn Hot’s (GB) Rivellino extended his winning streak in the G2 Skyline Stakes, while Lucky Vega’s (Ire) Within The Law claimed the G2 Sweet Embrace Stakes.

The common thread? Every one of these exciting juveniles is by a shuttle stallion. Not all, however, still secure a return ticket. Like Toronado (Ire) before him, Street Boss has put down permanent roots in Australia, a rare occurrence for a shuttler.

When you add in Tom Kitten’s victory against a top-class field in the G1 All-Star Mile for Harry Angel (Ire), Jennilala’s success in the G3 Matron Stakes for Shalaa (Ire), and Group race triumphs from Broadsiding and Tropicus for Too Darn Hot, it raises an interesting question: are shuttle stallions staging a comeback?

For the past decade, the Australian sire ranks have been dominated by homegrown heavyweights Snitzel, I Am Invincible, and Written Tycoon, a fact reflected in the Champion Sire Premiership, where these names have ruled supreme. The last shuttle stallion to top the standings was Street Cry (Ire) in 2016.

With the balance seemingly shifting once again, could we be witnessing a resurgence of shuttle stallions as the preferred choice for shaping Australia’s next generation of champions?

The data is interesting...

The shuttle stallion landscape has shifted from high-volume experimentation to a selective, commercially driven approach. In 2002, a record 62 shuttle stallions stood in Australia, but by 2023, that number had dropped to just 14, reflecting a move towards only shuttling the most in-demand sires. This decline is mirrored in mare numbers - 5,667 mares were covered in 2004, the peak of shuttling, compared to just 1,535 in 2024, the lowest on record.

In 2020, each shuttler averaged 116.4 mares, compared to just 68.7 in 1998, when breeders were still testing a broader pool (and books tended to be smaller). Today, only proven and commercially viable sires are shuttled, serving bigger books and making a greater impact.

Chart: How shuttle stallion numbers have changed since 1996

“The whole shuttling stallion's success can be very cyclical," says bloodstock aficionado James Bester, who is never one to shy away from a frank discussion on the commercial stallion market.

“I have always been a big fan of shuttling stallions, going back to the days of Danehill, Last Tycoon, and Royal Academy.

“In recent times, Danehill and his sons have played a major part in the resurgence of local stallions, As his best sons and sons of Redoute’s Choice have made such an impact.

“The same can be said with the Last Tycoon sire line as that has found its way strongly.

“It is cyclical, when you have Snitzel, I Am Invincible, Zoustar, Written Tycoon at the top of the tree, so many of the good fillies are by them, they have to find mates.”

Recent sale results reflecting current popularity

Australian buyers have been all over Wootton Bassett (GB) and Toronado this sale season, a clear sign of the respect these stallions command when it comes to putting money on the table.

Toronado led both books of the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, with 14 yearlings selling for a combined $3.7 million. His standout lot, a colt from Gilgai Farm, was knocked down for $1 million to Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) and Hong Kong Bloodstock.

Gallery: Stallions that have captivated Australian buyers this sales season

Wootton Bassett continues to be a major player in the sales ring, and all signs point to another strong showing at the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where 17 of his well-bred progeny will go under the hammer. His influence has been undeniable—he finished fourth by aggregate at both the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale ($2.1 million for nine yearlings) and the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale ($1.67 million for eight yearlings). At the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, he ranked fifth overall, with 24 yearlings selling for a staggering $10.3 million.

What makes these figures even more impressive is that Wootton Bassett’s oldest Southern Hemisphere-bred runners are only 2-year-olds, yet they’ve already made their mark on the track. From just 13 starters, he has produced four winners and five stakes performers: Wodeton, Gallo Nero, Wiltshire Square, West Of Swindon, and Yamashita’s Gold.

So, what’s working?

“The current shuttlers seem to be succeeding as they hold more of a southern hemisphere pattern or profile. Speed and precocity,” said Bester.

“Harry Angel, Justify, Too Darn Hot, Wootton Bassett, Toronado… These are top-class racehorses, and they were as good as you get with a lot of speed. Too Darn Hot was the best juvenile of his day, Justify was never beaten, and even though he went over longer distances, he was a fast horse. Harry Angel was an early sprinter and Royal Ascot performed, Blue Point was a sprinter and trained on.

“Maybe the lesson is being learnt? They have to fit the profile of speed and precocity. There is currently a trend, it is unmistakable.”

Sam Matthews, General Manager at Swettenham Stud, whose most recent shuttler, Wooded (Ire), celebrated his first stakes winner over the weekend in Europe, agrees that shuttle stallions are trending brightly.

When asked about the renewed popularity of European-bred stallions, Matthews remarked, “There may have been a resurgence, but we have never gone off them. Every two years or so, we try to get another stallion from overseas.”

Selecting the right stallion, however, is no easy task. Matthews explained, “There are quite a few factors that we look at, and it can be tricky. You need to check with the market without giving too much away. The horse needs to be enough of a household name - breeders need to know who they are without doing too much research. A moderate Group 1 can be a challenge for Aussies.”

One stallion who has certainly resonated with the Australian market is Toronado. Arriving as a dual Group 1 winner, he has become a standout for Swettenham Stud.

But even top-tier horses require careful positioning, as Matthews noted:

“Toronado was a high-class racehorse and has always served good books, but not everyone knew who he was. We had to do some educating.”

With Wooded celebrating Oodshauna’s (Fr) triumph in the Listed Prix Montenica at Chantilly, Matthews is confident they waited for the right horse - and the right timing - before committing.

"We actually waited a year—we could have got Wooded earlier, but we waited. Wootton Bassett was still progressing at that stage, but as his profile boosted, obviously the appeal to Wooded did also.

“He is a year behind the northern hemisphere, as his oldest are only yearlings here, but if he can tick over okay over there, it will help—and ultimately, markets and results will decide.

“He is his sire’s fastest son and is a very good looker. He has served okay numbers, but we were a bit disappointed with last year (48), though we do think that will improve this year.”

Darley’s international stallions in fine form

Darley’s overseas-bred shuttlers - or in Street Boss’s case, a former shuttler now permanently based in Australia - delivered a weekend of exceptional results, reaffirming their influence on Australian racing.

When it comes to selecting which of the many Godolphin runners make the trip to stand at stud in Australia, Darley’s Head of Stallions, Alastair Pulford, says the policy is simple: quality first.

“When we contemplate shuttling them, Australian breeders want to see the best of what we have in Europe and America.”

Too Darn Hot and Harry Angel have hit the ground running for Darley, but it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Street Boss, who has had more of a rollercoaster ride.

“Street Boss started off at a modest fee and has done it the hard way. Earlier on, Godolphin didn’t support him heavily as we were already supporting his father, Street Cry, and Street Sense, so we had no real need to use him in those early years.”

Pulford explained how Street Boss eventually became a key part of Darley’s breeding program.

“We ended up using Street Boss more after Street Cry passed away, and he has become the backbone of our racing team. He has left us a superstar and a stallion in Anamoe, and generally has a Group 1 horse each season.”

The ‘Anamoe effect’ saw his service fee skyrocket from $11,000 to a peak of $77,000, a testament to his growing reputation. That rise in demand has translated into his latest crop of juveniles, conceived off the back of his $55,000 service fee, delivering outstanding results.

Street Cry stood in Australia for nine seasons, covering an average of 115 mares per year. His slow start saw his first-season book limited to just 72 mares, and his service fee drop from $38,500 to $16,500 in his second season. From that first crop, he sired only one stakes winner—but he soon put that right with seven in his next, going on to flourish and cementing his legacy with the incomparable Winx.

Street Boss has now stood in Australia for 15 seasons, only missing the 2010 season, covering an average of 92 mares per year. Interestingly, just like his sire, he served 72 mares in his first season. He wasn’t heavily patronised early on, especially while Darley was prioritising Street Cry. As a result, Street Boss was a slow burner, producing just nine stakes winners in his first eight seasons. But in his last five crops, that number has exploded to 29.

“The better mares he has got, the better he has got,” Pulford noted. “The upgrade in mares has definitely worked for him.”

What works for these stallions in Australia?

The question of why some stallions thrive in one hemisphere more than the other is always an intriguing one.

Matthews believes Australian mares play a key role in the success of international shuttlers. “Sharp, sprinting Australian mares seem to suit these stallions. We have a loyal group of clients that like using these stallions, and they back the pedigree work we do on what we think may suit. We do this objectively and try to get the right mares to these stallions.”

Meanwhile, Pulford sees a more balanced long-term trend, stating, “I always believe they end up about the same. It does take a while to balance out, but from the data I’ve done, it seems to equalize over time.”

He acknowledged, however, that, “Obviously, there can be major exceptions - Galileo comes to mind. But Dubawi aligned well, and obviously now that he doesn’t shuttle and serves elite mares at a high fee, so things have changed a bit with him.”

Pulford also pointed out the natural variability in stallion success. “Stallions succeed for a reason, they can’t all be successful. It can take time to figure out how to breed, train, and race them effectively.”

The era of widespread shuttling is over, replaced by a highly selective model that prioritises market appeal and performance. With the right mares, careful planning, and time, shuttling stallions continue to shape the Australian racing landscape, but their success often depends on the fine balance of pedigree, adaptability, and patience.