Artspeak 2, 1:50.2; 3, 1:47.4 ($1,625,869), the 2014 North American 2YO Pacing Colt of the Year and 2015’s fastest three-year-old pacing colt, will be standing his first Australian season at Empire Stallions, Avenel (Vic.) this year.
A powerful bay horse, 15.2 hands, Artspeak is now standing his first season at the prestigious Hanover Shoe Farms in Pennsylvania. Besides the great Somebeachsomewhere, who stood a single season at Empire in 2013/14, Artspeak will become only the second stallion ever to be shuttled from Hanover to the Southern Hemisphere in the farm’s110-year storied history.
Hanover President Jim Simpson said: “The fact that he is among the very best sons of Western Ideal played a lot into the decision to stand him. Western Ideal is still siring at the highest level so it’s nice to have one of his greatest sons to carry on a breeding cross that’s worked so well for us for so many years. Western Ideal is already a proven sire of sires with Rocknroll Hanover and American Ideal, and we think Artspeak can take that siring influence to the next level.”
Artspeak was the richest two-year-old pacing colt of his year, bankrolling $742,185, the result of eight wins and two placings from 10 starts. Trained by Tony Alagna and driven by Canadian Scott Zeron, he was undefeated in his first seven appearances including the $667,000 Metro Pace by five lengths in 1:50.2, divisions of the $272,000 Nassagaweya Stake in 1:52.4, the Bluegrass Stakes in 1:51.3 and the $100,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Championship in 1:52.
He rounded out his initial campaign by winning the $565,000 Governor’s Cup by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:50.4 at Woodbine.
As a three-year-old Artspeak won on a further six occasions and earned an additional $883,6845 in stakes in a crop that included In The Arsenal, Lost For Words, Wakazashi Hanover and Wiggle It Jiggleit. Undoubtedly the highlight of his sophomore season was the $450,000 Tattersall’s Pace at Lexington, defeating a stellar field in a lifetime mark of 1:47.4 – only a tick outside the fastest all-age mile of the year.
His other notable performances at 3 were victories in the $168,000 Simcoe Stakes in 1:48.2, the $100,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Championship in 1:48.4 at The Meadowlands and eliminations of the Breeders Crown and Max Hempt Memorial.
Artspeak is bred on a classic cross – that of Western Ideal his sire and Artsplace his maternal sire.
His sire Western Ideal (1:48) by Western Hanover was a champion with stake earnings of $1.4-million and has been one of North America’s leading sires for many years. Artspeak is Western Ideal’s fastest performer
The Art Museum, the dam of Artspeak, has left four foals of racing age for four winners with three in 1:55. The grand-dam Southwind Laurel (1:52.4) by Matt’s Scooter produced three sub 1:55 performers and is a half-sister to the brilliant Southwind Lynx 1:48.3 ($1.7-million), winner of the 2007 Meadowlands Pace. This is a pedigree of extreme early speed.
Artspeak boasts an outstanding race record at both 2 & 3, excellent conformation and a lovely temperament and being from a great maternal family, gives every indication of being an early speed sire.
Artspeak will be available to Australian breeders for $6,000 including GST with discounts available.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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