Sprinting sensation Lethal Force has been signed to boost the burgeoning Acclamation sireline at Cheveley Park Stud in 2014.
The Newmarket operation will have 8 stallions on its roster next year headed by champion sire Pivotal.
Lethal Force (4c Dark Angel – Land Army by Desert Style) is a son of Acclamation’s rising star Dark Angel and has been a revelation in Europe’s sprinting division this year claiming a Group 1 double in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes and July Cup.
He became the second dual Group 1 winner to represent the Acclamation sireline following Equiano. The Swettenham Stud shuttler made the initial breakthrough with Group 1 victories in the 2008 and 2010 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Swettenham is standing Equiano for a third season and Emirates Park jumped on the bandwagon by importing Acclamation’s G2 winner Harbour Watch to the Hunter Valley this year.
Lethal Force will remain with Lambourn trainer Clive Cox for the remainder of his final campaign which continues in the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup this Saturday.
Dark Angel has enjoyed a textbook start to his stud career, siring Group winners in each of his first three crops including last-start Group 3 winner Heeraat who is also nominated for the Haydock Sprint Cup.
Meanwhile, Equiano (Fr) impressed onlookers at the Swettenham open days on August 25 and September 1. “He’s an ideal stallion for Australian conditions,” Swettenham owner Adam Sangster said while the stallion paraded. “And he’s a perfect cross for Australia’s Danzig line broodmares.
“He is a beautifully balanced horse – Barry Hills rated Equiano the fastest horse he ever trained,” Sangster added. “He’s siring strong, correct stock and that’s what attracts commercial breeders and buyers at the yearling sales.”
Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock owner Darren Dance was on hand to inspect Equiano at Nagambie. He was just back from watching his Melbourne Cup prospect Dandino win the American St Leger at Arlington Park.
Dance bought an Equiano – Tintoretto foal at the Inglis Great Southern Sale in May. The colt is from a half-sister to Hockney (G2 Expressway Stakes) and Dance rates the sire a “serious” chance of making the grade at stud.
Fellow Victorians Gary Mudgway (Grange Thoroughbreds) and Damon Gabbedy (Belmont Bloodstock) are also on board the Equiano Express.
Mudgway bought an Equiano filly out of Stavinsky’s Gal at the Tattersalls Foal Sale in England last December and Gabbedy was impressed by the Equiano yearlings that sold to AUD 133,000 at the Arqana Sale in France last month. “They’re strong, precocious types with a real purposeful swagger about them,” he said. “I think he’s a massive chance.”
Equiano is standing for a $16,500 (inc gst) service fee this year. For further information on the Swettenham Stud roster, broodmare owners can contact Sangster (0418 543 633) or Business Development Manager Chris Belli (0417 514 552).
– Karl Patterson
EQUIANO
Group 1 winning son of Acclamation on parade at Swettenham Stud