Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos
Purchased by the Rosemont Victorian Alliance and Suman Hedge Bloodstock for $1.25 million, Schwarz had a lot of expectations to live up, but then he missed his juvenile year through injury, debuting as a spring 3-year-old where he won before running fourth in the G3 Red Anchor Stakes at his second start, and winning a Listed race at his third start.
He later won the G3 Hawkesbury Guineas that season, but it is at four that he’s really hit his straps, winning the G2 Missile Stakes, G2 Australia Stakes, and a last start win in the G1 William Reid Stakes.
He heads to Doomben on Saturday to run in the G1 Doomben 10,000 over 1200 metres in a hot field that includes eight Group 1 winners, before retiring to stud. “Yes, it’s his last start before retirement with his stud career beckoning,” said Rosemont Stud’s Ryan McEvoy.
“Since we announced him, he’s already proving really popular with breeders, which isn’t surprising as he’s put together an unbelievably appealing profile. He’s only lightly raced and is a multiple Group 2 Weight-For-Age winner and now also a Group 1 winner.
"He’s earned the title of Zoustar’s best son, and we think he’s the best looking son. Schwarz has also got the pedigree behind him being from Redoute’s Choice's family.
Ryan McEvoy | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“It’s not often you get a million dollar yearling achieve what he’s done at weight for age. We are looking forward to getting him back to Rosemont.”
Hedge’s favourite yearling
Suman Hedge has been the bloodstock agent for the Rosemont Victorian Alliance for several years, and works in a consulting role for the Alliance, including recommending the purchase of Schwarz as a yearling from Widden Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft. “He was my favourite horse of the sale. We did the inspections with the Rosemont team and the group liked him, but for me, he reminded me so much of his father with so many similarities and qualities,” said Hedge.
“We weren’t sure we’d have the ammunition to buy him, and it was a conversation with John O’Shea that made it happen. I was chatting to him and he asked which was my favourite horse in the sale, and I said, the Zoustar colt from Summer Sham. He felt the same way and wanted to train him, so we both went to the Rosemont table together, and John talked him up. He did a whole spiel about the horse and then Mitho was strong on the bidding and we were fortunate enough to get him.”
Schwarz as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The first live foal of G2 Angus Armanasco Stakes winner Summer Sham (Not A Single Doubt), Schwarz’s fourth dam is Shantha’s Choice (Canny Lad), the dam of Redoute’s Choice, Manhattan Rain, as well as Group 1 winner Platinum Scissors, and two other stakes winners. Successful sires Rubick, Al Maher, Hurricane Sky and Umatilla are also from this family.
“I think he’s an even better racehorse than what he looks (on paper). He got injured when being educated and had to have some time off and it put him behind. He lost his 2-year-old season and I thought he was an early 2-year-old type even though it doesn’t show on his resume. He’s trained on at three and four, and won a Group 1. His resume is already complete whether he succeeds on Saturday or not.
“The thing I love about him is that he’s the kind of horse that every gallop, every trial, he wins. He’s a fast horse who wins and is so competitive. Whatever he does on Saturday, he’ll be a better stallion than a racehorse, because he’s got so much speed, and those ones with natural speed tend to be effective stallions.”
“Whatever he (Schwarz) does on Saturday, he’ll be a better stallion than a racehorse, because he’s got so much speed, and those ones with natural speed tend to be effective stallions.” - Suman Hedge
Hedge was responsible for purchasing Written Tycoon as a tried horse, and saw the similarities between Schwarz and Written Tycoon with both showing natural speed. “Schwarz will be the same, and he’s from a stallion’s family. He’s a beautiful animal, well balanced, strong with so much quality. He has a tremendous opportunity to make it as a stallion.”
Schwarz carries a close 3x3 cross to Redoute’s Choice, via Zoustar’s damsire and Not A Single Doubt’s sire, as well as being from the same family. “He might be challenging to breed with due to the concentration of Danehill, but Zoustar just loves the double Danehill and double Redoute’s Choice. His best cross is with Fastnet Rock mares, and that’s one of the reasons Zoustar is so successful because those mares are everywhere. He tends to complement himself.”
Suman Hedge | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Zoustar, sire of Schwarz and 65 other stakes winners took the lead in the Australian Champion Stallion Premiership this week, and is headed towards his first Champion Sire title. His Group 1 winners Joliestar, Zougotcha, and Climbing Star (NZ) are all out of Fastnet Rock mares, while champion filly Sunlight’s second damsire is Danehill (USA).
Working with the Rosemont Alliance
Suman Hedge established his bloodstock agency on the back of buying Zoustar and Written Tycoon as stallion prospects for clients, and on behalf of the Rosemont Victorian Alliance, he’s purchased several high-profile yearlings in the past few years.
“Rosemont have invested so heavily, they really deserve a horse like (Schwarz). They have put a lot of faith in me and in their trainers. Sometimes, it feels like a rollercoaster where we’ve had some highs and some disappointments, so I’m really happy for Anthony (Mithen) and Ryan (McEvoy) and the team who put themselves out there and now they are getting rewards with several potential stallions from the group,” said Hedge.
Rosemont’s current roster includes Group 2 winner Doull who was purchased by the Rosemont Alliance for $1.2 million in 2021 with Schwarz joining the roster in 2025 at a fee yet to be announced. They also race Bosustow (Blue Point {Ire}) who is a multiple Group 1-placed and recent Group-winning 3-year-old colt.
Doull | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“They’ve achieved well compared to their spend. Some of the other stallions groups have a lot more to spend, so we’ve been beaten (in the ring) a lot and been underbidder a lot. It’s easy to pick people apart, but it’s not so easy to put up your money and have a go. That’s what Rosemont have done and I’m grateful that Rosemont allowed me to be part of it and get some nice results.”
It's not just about Schwarz, Bosustow, and Doull. “We’d bought Brereton and Millane previously who were handy but not what we were looking for.”
Brereton (Zoustar) cost $1 million from Widden Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft and won the G3 Maribyrnong Plate at his second start, training on as a gelding to win twice more. Millane (Zoustar) was bought by the Alliance from Segenhoe Stud’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale draft in 2021 for $1.15 million and won the Listed Foundation Plate on debut as an autumn 2-year-old, then won three more races at three, and four in city-class as a gelding.
Gallery: Some of the successful horses purchased by the Rosemont Stallion Alliance
“I have such respect for all the groups doing it (buying stallion prospects), Henry Field, James Harron, and Coolmore have all done very well.”
For all their current success, the Rosemont Alliance wasn’t active in 2025, and Hedge outlined the reasoning behind that.
“We did talk about doing it again this year, but didn’t. It’s a big strain on the investors, and it’s a multiplier, you buy eight to 14 horses a year, very quickly that’s 28 then more in work, all of which need to be managed. Mitho made the call this year to have a gap year, but has left it open to look at it again next year. I think it’s a wise move, even though we’ve had these recent successes.”
“We did talk about doing it again this year, but didn’t. It’s a big strain on the investors, and it’s a multiplier... Mitho (Anthony Mithen) made the call this year to have a gap year, but has left it open to look at it again next year.” - Suman Hedge
Bosustow to train on at four
Rosemont Stud confirmed that 3-year-old colt Bosustow will race on at four for the Alliance. The $900,000 purchase from Segenhoe won the G3 Gold Coast Guineas last Saturday. “His main aim is the Stradbroke,” said McEvoy.
“He didn’t have long out after the summer where he was Group 1-placed and then won the Magic Millions Guineas, and he’s a horse who continues to thrive and get better. He’s racing with a lot of confidence and looks terrific.
“He really put that race to bed in such dominant fashion, and now he has two options on the way to the Stradbroke, either the Fred Best against his own age, or the G1 Kingsford-Smith at weight for age. We’ll have a good look at both options.”
When asked if he will train on at four, it was confirmed. “He’s going to be an exciting 4-year-old. I think we will see his best over next six to twelve months. Amelia’s Jewel, his half-sister, trained on and the Blue Point’s are showing an appetite to train on. We think this horse will hit his peak from now onwards.”
“He’s (Bosustow) going to be an exciting 4-year-old... Amelia’s Jewel, his half-sister, trained on and the Blue Point’s are showing an appetite to train on. We think this horse will hit his peak from now onwards.” - Ryan McEvoy
Hedge recalls Bosustow as a yearling
Bosustow, a half-brother to Group 1 winner Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}), was sold by Segenhoe Stud, and Hedge recalls him as a yearling. “He was a beautiful yearling. Anthony, Ryan, and Tom Brennan all loved him as a yearling. We all get a captain’s call, Schwarz was mine and Bosustow was theirs. It was certainly a gusty move to pay so much for a first season sire, albeit from a mare who had started so well and from a successful vendor,” Hedge said.
Bosustow as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“He’s a well put together, good actioned horse who continues to improve. He’s very genuine, always in the top three or four in his racing. He had a bit of a bridesmaid’s reputation for a while, running a lot of placings, but he looks progressive and Annabel and Rob (Archibald) have placed him well.”
Sixth on debut as a January 2-year-old, Bosustow then ran second to future Group 1 winner Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth), who Hedge also selected as a yearling for different clients, before running third in the G2 VRC Sires’ Produce. Back in the winter, he won in Brisbane before running into Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in the G1 JJ Atkins Plate, finishing in third.
In the spring he had two more stakes placings, then went north to Brisbane where he won the R. Listed Magic Million 3YO Guineas, then travelled to New Zealand for the G1 Waikato Sprint where he finished second to Here To Shock (NZ) (Shocking) with boom Kiwi 3-year-old Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel) in third, who at his next start placed in the G1 Australian Guineas behind Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth)..
Saturday’s G3 Gold Coast Guineas victory was his first run this campaign. “He has a beautiful pedigree. His dam looks like she’ll be a blue hen, she’s young and has started so well. She was sourced by Louis Le Metayer for her owners, which is a good job done by him.”
Bosustow is the third foal of stakes placed Bumbasina (Ire) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) whose first foal is Group 1 winner Amelia’s Jewel, winner of 10 races and over $4 million. She recently sold at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale for $3.8 million to Tom Magnier and is soon to travel to the United States to be served by Justify (USA).
Bumbasina has two stakes-winning siblings, G2 Curragh Lanwades Stud Stakes winner Epona Plays (Ire) (Australia {GB}), and Group 3 winner Dolce Strega (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). She missed after Bosustow and was sent back to Europe to be covered by Siyouni (Fr) again, and has a 2023 French-born colt by him and returned home to have a full sister to Amelia’s Jewel in 2024.
The benefits of keeping colts in training
With the news that Bosustow will train on at four, and Schwarz winning his Group 1 at four, it’s a counter strategy to many stallion farms who retire their horses to stud early. Hedge didn’t speculate on Rosemont’s strategy - it's not his role to do so - only mentioning that it’s good to see horses racing as older horses.
“Zoustar got retired at the end of his 3-year-old season, but he’s getting older horses now. They have substance, but we will never know if he could have done that. And then you get a horse like So You Think who kept racing at a high level for a number of years, and produces that type of stock too. It’s refreshing to see horses race on. I love racing and so I want to see them,” said Hedge.
“It enables us to gauge their quality too if we see them racing against each other as older horses. Some of the really top stallions were not just champions at two, but they trained on too like Lonhro. He did so much racing at a high level and was such an effective stallion.
“It (racing on past three) enables us to gauge their quality too if we see them racing against each other as older horses. Some of the really top stallions were not just champions at two, but they trained on too like Lonhro.” - Suman Hedge
“The other side is that horses are still maturing and it’s a big ask to get them to be stallions at four, and cover massive books. Perhaps it’s not that prudent for them (to do that). It’s nice to see a horse who can continue to improve with time (as a racehorse). Bosustow mirrors his sire in that way, Blue Point kept getting better with time and hopefully he’ll do the same. He’s got such good trainers, they are on the ball, and they love that horse. They have a good opinion of him, and he’s travelled a lot, to New Zealand as well. It’s a testimony to his resilience.
"It would be nice if he could win a Group 1 in time and then stand alongside Schwarz.”
Doull was popular in his first year
Rosemont Stud’s Alliance graduate Doull stood his first season in 2024, and the son of Snitzel was popular, covering 70 mares at an introductory fee of $11,000 inc GST. “He’s a Snitzel horse that won the G2 Caulfield Sprint and was a highly rated 2-year-old,” said McEvoy.
“We are looking forward to seeing his first foals this spring. He’s a good looking horse who fits the profile of good stallions standing in Australia, and has been well supported.”
In regards to the rest of the Alliance racing team? “We’ve got some 2-year-olds who are a bit above average and they’ll debut soon. Pimlico is an Extreme Choice colt with John O’Shea and Tom Charlton who will debut this week. He’s a nice talent and a couple of others are showing promise. Hopefully we can find another Group 1 among them, as they put up their hands as spring contenders.”
