When you are a $1.20 million Easter yearling, purchased by respected bloodstock agent James Bester, much is expected of you….Von Costa de Hero ticks all the boxes.

Breaking his maiden in the G2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes, a race won previously by successful G1-producing sires Testa Rossa, Blevic, Canny Lad, Kaapstad and Vain, Von Costa de Hero headed to the G1 Golden Slipper at his very next start.

With a heroic effort to come from an outside gate, settle amongst the tail enders, come around the field and go down by half-a-head, Von Costa de Hero’s effort was reminiscent of the performance put in by the great Octagonal over a decade earlier. Rating higher than many of the recent winners of the race, whichever way you look at it, Von Costa de Hero is the closest thing you can get to a Golden Slipper without actually winning it.

Other than the 10-time G1 winner Octagonal, recent place-getters in the Golden Slipper; Choisir, Align and Charge Forward have all gone on to produce gallopers of the highest calibre on the track.

Spelled after his juvenile campaign, Von Costa de Hero took on the cream of his crop at his third start of his three-year-old campaign, finishing third in the G1 Caulfield Guineas behind Street Cry gelding Whobegotyou and fellow Darley stallion Time Thief.

Known for its stallion making credentials, previous Caulfield Guineas winners include Champion sires Lonhro and Redoute’s Choice, while it is interesting to note that the likes of Bel Esprit, Choisir, Ustinov, Testa Rossa, General Nediym, Commands, Encosta de Lago, Octagonal and Blevic have all finished amongst the place-getters in recent years; indicating that Von Costa de Hero’s effort could easily set him up for success at stud.

Starting in the G1 Australian Guineas in the Autumn as one of the favoured runners, Von Costa de Hero (pictured top right) finished second, as had the now successful stallions Darci Brahma, Starcraft, Mossman and O’Reilly during their Classic season.

Built for speed, Von Costa de Hero’s pedigree has it all. Out of the speedy Scenic mare Piavonic, a winner of the G1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley where she defeated the world-class mare Sunline and by the multiple Champion sire Encosta de Lago. The highest priced colt by his sire of his year at the yearling sales, Von Costa de Hero was only lightly raced before retiring to stud at the end of his Spring four-year-old season.

Covering his initial book of mares in 2010, the first crop of foals by the son of Encosta de Lago are hitting the ground this season, with many fine examples being born possessing the traits of bone and muscle that their sire and grand-sire are known for.

With 20 reported foals born so far this season, the Von Costa de Hero stock are justifying their breeder’s faith by the quality that is being produced.Von Costa foal

Born September 23, Danehill mare Long Stem Red produced a cracking bay colt at Darley Victoria. Bred on the Danehill – Encosta de Lago cross which has produced eight Stakes winners so far including G1 winner Aloha, as well as the G1 performers Dan de Lago, Merlene de Lago, Valdemoro and Largo Lad, this colt is a prime example of the quality his sire is putting into his stock.

Another bred on the same cross is the bay colt (pictured below right) out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Tell Tale, herself a half-sister to Hasna, the dual G1-winning Champion two-year-old of her year. Born on October 15, the colt is from the family of current Stakes-performing Redoute’s Choice colt Cross Of Gold.

Baryshnikov mare Graceful Tasarina, a handy race track performer herself, produced a bay filly on September 24. A half-sister to G3-winning Danzero gelding Count To Zero, Graceful Tasarina will head back to Von Costa de Hero this season based on how impressed the owners were by the quality of the foal produced from the mating.

Another foal of note was born in late September; an extremely well-related bay filly out of the G3 winner Rose Of Portland. Herself a daughter of the triple G1 winner Rose Of Kingston, Rose Of Portland is a half-sister G1 Melbourne Cup winner Kingston Rule.

With approximately 60 mares still to foal, including the Stakes-winning and producing mares Blaze The Turf, Bletchwyn, Encarta, Lady Elsie, Mega Achiever, Miss Badoura, Nuclear Free, Oceano and Spice Doll to name but a few, the progeny of his first crop are an excellent advertisement for the young stallion.

Defeating 16 individual G1 winners throughout his career including American, Nicconi, Duporth, El Segundo and Eagle Falls, Von Costa de Hero has everything needed to be a success at stud.

Standing at Darley’s Victorian property Northwood Park, Von Costa de Hero’s fee of $16,500 (inc. gst) places him as one of the best-valued, best-bred stallions standing in Victoria.