Any Suggestion served an outstanding book of 136 mares in his first season at Rich Hill Stud in 2008 and his second book will also top the century mark according to studmaster John Thompson.

“His initial book included the dams of Group winners Altered Image, Down The Road, Ginga Dude and Solvini,” Thompson said this week.  “I don’t know of any other NZ stallion at his $6,500 service fee who received such a strong book of mares in his first season.

“We took a number of bookings off the back of his stallion parade alone,” Thompson claimed.  “His first foals are on the ground and we’ve been very impressed with their muscle and quality.”

Any Suggestion (Aus) made his way to New Zealand as a brilliantly fast stakes winner of nine events up to 1200m.  Cutting his teeth at black-type level in the Listed BTC Chief DeBeers Hcp (1110m), the grey flyer later franked his competiveness at the elite level with a close second to Australia’s champion mare Miss Andretti in the G1 Australian Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.

“He could run some incredible sectionals,” Thompson said.  “He won a 1020m race at Doomben in 57.83s with the last 600m in 32.26s.  They don’t run much faster than that.”

Any Suggestion took up residence at Rich Hill Stud as arguably the fastest son of Danehill sire Lion Hunter.  He was syndicated among Curraghmore Stud, Hallmark Stud, Scott Williams, Cambridge Stud, Soliloquy Lodge, Windsor Park, Chandon Farm, Monovale Farm and Nigel Auret.

Ill-fated sire Lion Hunter was based at Oaklands Stud in Queensland and he has been responsible for an astounding 71% winners-to-runners strike-rate headed by the Group winners Gold Edition, Lovely Jubly, Street Smart, Ferocity, Barbaricus, Chinchilla Rose, Rampant Lion and Leone Chiara.

Any Suggestion’s dam Advisable (Regal Advice) is a sister to Miss Sandman, the dam of leading Australian sire Show A Heart.

The fastest sons of Danehill’s have made the best sires and Thompson is optimistic the same should also hold true for his fastest grandsons.

“Any Suggestion is a lovely option for New Zealand breeders – particularly those with young mares,” said Thompson.  “If you look at his bloodlines, he should cross really well with Lord Ballina mares and with Vice Regal also showing up in his pedigree, he should also cross well with Zabeel mares.”

Any Suggestion’s ability to cross the Pentire mares also acted as a significant drawcard for the sire.  “When we were making the decision about standing another stallion, one of the things that was important to us was that he would need to suit our client’s Pentire mares,” Thompson explained.

“With Any Suggestion, this was pretty much confirmed for us by the 2002 World Horse of the Year Rock of Gibraltar.  He is a Danehill sire out of a Be My Guest mare and Pentire shares the same damsire.

Described as a big, strong, fast horse standing 16.2hh, Any Suggestion stands alongside Pentire, Sir Percy and Bahhare at the Matamata nursery.