Econsul is closing the season with a flourish and he’s well on the way to carving out a successful stud career at Woodside Park.

The 2004 Caulfield Guineas champion sired his first two winners last week and, significantly, they are both out of Danehill line mares.

Econsul (NZ) opened his account with Mr Jansz in the Inglis Red Centre Classic on May 2 and he doubled up when Crown Consul scored in Hobart on May 8.

Crown Consul won the Boag’s Premium 2YO Maiden Plate and Longford based trainer Bill Ryan will set him for the $50,000 Tasmanian Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) in Launceston on May 26.

Crown Consul (2g Econsul – Elfin Hill by Danehill) was sold by Armidale Stud for $4,500 at the 2010 Tasmanian yearling sale.  “Paul Jones bought him at the Magic Millions,” Ryan recalled this week.  “He’s on the small side but is as tough as nails.

“He had a bit of a gut-buster at Hobart last month and I thought it might have knocked him around.  But he came home and licked the bin clean.  He loves a feed.”

After a couple of placings in April, Ryan knew the gelding was ready to break through last Sunday.  “He was dropping back to 940 metres and I told Brendon (McCoull) it was probably too short but not to let up on him.

“Although he was well back, Brendon kept digging and, sure enough, he let down and won running away.”

Crown Consul is screaming out for more ground and 1400 metres will suit him down to the ground.  Ryan will tip him out after the Sires and believes the gelding will develop into a quality three year-old.

“I guess he’s been a bit of a surprise packet,” Ryan conceded.  “But if he’s a typical Econsul, they can keep sending more of them over here!”

Econsul is by champion NZ based sire Pins and has sired two winners from just five runners in his first crop.  

“We knew that the second half of the season was likely to be when the Econsuls would come into their own,” Woodside Park’s bloodstock manager Dean Harvey said.

“And judging from the reports of trainers who have some unraced Econsuls, we have a lot to look forward to.  They are strong, good-boned horses who handle a bit of work, which is why the trainers like them.

“It is worth noting that both Econsul’s winners are from Danehill line mares.  We have always regarded Econsul, who is free of Northern Dancer blood, as a perfect cross for Danehill line mares.”

Crown Consul is from the Danehill mare Elfin Hill, a daughter of the imported mare With The Fairies (by Fairy King) from a Shirley Heights mare.

Mr Jansz is from the Flying Spur (by Danehill) mare Aviation, who is out of a mare by Bluebird (by Storm Bird).

Econsul will stand for a $4,400 (inc. gst) fee at Woodside Park in 2011.  Leading second-season sire Foreplay (Danehill) and Irish Derby winner Grey Swallow (Daylami) are also based at the Tylden, Victoria stud.