Americain going global in Ireland

Americain (USA) is currently covering his first mares at the Irish National Stud and chief executive John Osborne admits he jumped at the chance to stand the 2010 Melbourne Cup winner.

The 10 year-old Dynaformer stallion also shuttles to Swettenham Stud in Victoria and, for the last two years, his northern base had been Brad Kelley’s Calumet Farm in Kentucky.

“We were asked by Brad if we would be interested in standing Americain,” Osborne said.  “He is ambitious to expand globally and we were happy to assist.  There were a few eyebrows raised when people heard he was coming here but when breeders have seen him they’ve been pleasantly surprised.

“He’s already produced strong foals in the USA and Australia and he’s particularly good-looking.

“I suppose staying horses have had a pretty rough press in recent years,” Osborne continued.  “But Americain was an exceptional racehorse and is probably one of the highest-rated horses we’ve ever stood.

“He’s the highest-earning son of Dynaformer and we’re big fans of the Roberto line here – Big Bad Bob has been a big success for us – and the Roberto line has always produced hard-knocking horses.

“There has been a lot of sameness to the European roster in recent years – you couldn’t find a stallion that didn’t have Danehill in the first two lines.  Americain will offer a different angle for breeders.

“The market is dominated now by cheap speed and the quick return horses – we’re heavily invested in that side of the market ourselves because that’s what the customers want – but there are also a lot of people who play the game differently, and I think that’s where there’s a niche for a horse like Americain.”

Americain will continue shuttling to Swettenham Stud where he has covered some 290 mares in his first two southern seasons.

Americain Irish National StudAMERICAIN
Melbourne Cup winner on parade at the Irish National Stud