In a first for the Australian breeding industry, Cornerstone Stud has sold Barely A Moment to stand as a jumps stallion in Ireland.
Cornerstone owner Sam Hayes clinched the deal with Coolballyshan House Stud in County Limerick.
Barely A Moment (Gilded Time) was bred by WA based De Grey Stud owner Dick Vincent and was sold for $58,000 at the 2003 Perth Magic Millions. He went on to win three Group 1 races in Melbourne before retiring to Cornerstone in 2006.
Liam Kennedy, manager of Coolballyshan House Stud, revealed the Barely A Moment contract was signed earlier this month. “We’re lucky it went through when it did. There were other parties interested after Moment Of Change came out and won two Group 1 races at Caulfield.
“Barely A Moment brings a lot to the table and he could be very popular because he had a bit of speed, which is needed in the jumps game now. He also has plenty of size and was breeding sound horses in Australia, which is the number one attribute for a jumps sire.
“His stock are also very good in their wind and that’s one of the key complaints about horses being bred in Ireland at the moment. He will also be a good outcross for a number of mares.”
Barely A Moment covered more than 100 mares in each of his first two seasons at a $16,500 fee. He has been serving books of less than 30 in recent years at a $4,950 fee.