Each breeding season seems to throw up some really strong results for some sires and unfortunately it can be the death of others. Two striking sons of Art Major look like they a kicking some serious goals this year if my testmating site numbers are correct. That said, they are very reliable year in year out.
From the data I’ve been tracking these two up and coming stallions will collectively get very close to 300 mares between them, which is a fantastic result for both Yirribee and Allwood Stud.
Follow The Stars, looks like he has served at least 140 mares so far this season (as of today’s numbers ). He was able to win 10 of his 11 starts as a two-year-old and $455,409 – with a scrimmage putting him out of the race at his other appearance in the Harness Jewels at Cambridge.
He won in a career-best 1:53.8 at his second start in the Group 3 NZ Sapling Stakes in February and maintained his brilliance right to the end of a long freshman campaign. Capturing the Group 1 $297,000 Breeders Crown Final at Melton at his final start, he ripped home in 55.7 after being required to work overtime from an awkward barrier draw.
The charismatic colt also made a clean sweep of the Australian Pacing Gold series at Melton, winning the Group 1 $322,000 Final in runaway fashion in 1:54.1 for 1720 metres, as well as the $100,000 Cardigan Bay Stakes – his third Group 1 success — at Auckland.
Legendary NZ horseman Mark Purdon, who trained Follow The Stars, said after the Breeders Crown: “There is something special about this horse. He has a real X-factor about him. I would say he is more than up with the best two-year-olds I’ve trained…he is the best.”
For A Reason – has ticked all the boxes for Yirribee and their loyal clients , both on the track and now in the stallion barn. My data has him tracking very closely to the numbers of Follow The Stars (140).
He had 27 wins which yielded $1,111,470. The Group 1 winner is the richest Australian son of Art Major, and was crowned Australian three year old of his season on the back of claiming the New South Wales and Queensland Derbies.
For A Reason’s 2013 Victoria Cup victory was outstanding, beating the likes of dual interdominion champion, Beautide, Caribbean Blaster, Christen Me and The Gold Ace. Now he is the sire of a Group 1 winner himself in the Breeders Challenge 2yo Colts and Geldings Final winner, Conviction.
For A Reason is from the same N77 family as the outstanding mare Steamed Wash, the SA Oakes winner, who went on to claim the Jodies Babe and the Group 1 Queen of the Pacific. Also in this family is Kiwi star pacer of the 70’s, Bronze Trail, who won the 1976 New Zealand two year old of the season. A recent talent in the same family is Waldenburg, who won the Simpson Sprint at Menangle and was runner up in the 2011 Breeders Crown Final for 2yo’s, beating home the likes of Philadelphia Man.
Congratulations are in order for both studs as this is the kind of result that our industry has been crying out for. Let’s hope this is the start of many more successful season for both these forward thinking organizations.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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