Outstanding Hong Kong sprinter-miler Admiration has been signed to stand at Phil Ibbotson’s Westbury Park Stud.

Ibbotson purchased Admiration as part of a syndicate comprising Western Australian breeders Graham Daws (Dawson Stud), Alan and Sue Olive (Gold Front Thoroughbreds), Impressive Racing (Kevin Berry) and Alan Macalister (Redwood Park).

Admiration (Encosta De Lago – Provence by Redoute’s Choice) has all the credentials to make a highly successful sire.  He only raced in the best of company in Hong Kong winning 7 races and the equivalent of AUD 1.20 million for trainer John Moore and leading owner Hui Sai-fun

He was a $625,000 graduate from Widden Stud at the 2009 Inglis Easter yearling sale and won second-up as a two year-old in the Tan Shan River Plate (1200m) at Sha Tin.  “He hadn’t shown any signs of going the wrong way, so we left him as a colt, considering his pedigree,” Moore said.

Resuming at three, Admiration completed a hat-trick under Darren Beadman in the Panasonic Hcp (1400m) at Sha Tin before graduating to a Group 2 victory in the Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) as a four year-old.  He was also Group 1 placed in the Hong Kong Classic Mile.

“He’s got a terrific nature and has always been a lovely animal,” Moore said.  “He will be an ideal stallion.”

Regally bred, Admiration is by Encosta De Lago and the Coolmore champion is an emerging sire of sires through ill-fated Northern Meteor and current first-season leader Manhattan Rain.

His dam Provence was a Flemington stakes winner during the 2004 Melbourne Cup carnival and is a three-quarter sister to Hong Kong Group 1 winner Inspiration.  She is also a full-sister to Flemington stakes winner Lucky Unicorn who will stand his second season at Westbury Park this season.

Provence foaled Admiration in her first season at stud and her current two year-old is South African based star Banaadeer.  The Mike De Kock trained Group 1 performer has been nominated for the 2014 Highveld Champion 2YO Colt award in Johannesburg on Wednesday evening (May 28).

Admiration retired sound after a five year-old season that saw him run placings in the G2 Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) and G3 Premier Cup (1400m).  “He was a top class sprinter-miler who would have been capable of winning Group 1 races in Australia as a three year old.” Beadman said.

Perth bloodstock agent John Chalmers brokered the deal for the Sunspeed syndicate.  “He’s an outstanding individual,” Chalmers said.  “It’s difficult to imagine any mare owner not willing to support him once they inspect him.”