Group 1 Australian Guineas winner Ferlax (NZ) has joined the Haunui Farm stallion roster for the 2014 breeding season.

Ferlax (4h Pentire – Legs Akimbo by Marscay) represents the perfect outcross for the Australasian broodmare pool being completely free of Danehill and Sir Tristram blood.  He was bred by Rich Hill Stud and cost leading Melbourne owner Jonathon Munz $180,000 at the 2011 NZB Karaka Sale.

After winning his first three starts at the Victorian provincials, Ferlax maintained his unbeaten record in the Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington.

The classic had been thrown wide open when odds-on favourite All Too Hard was withdrawn on the morning of the race.  “It’s a shame for the All Too Hard team that they couldn’t run,” trainer Jim Conlan said.  “But we did and I think we have a very good, very exciting horse.”

Returning at four, Ferlax made the graduation to elite weight-for-age level, finishing second to champion mare Atlantic Jewel in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m).

Conlan expected Ferlax to be even better at 2000m and was setting him for the G1 W S Cox Plate, however, an injury brought his career to an untimely end after just 9 starts.

“When you consider the list of Australian Guineas winners and see the names of champion sires Zabeel, Flying Spur and Pins, you realise that Ferlax has excellent credentials and prospects for stallion success,” Haunui Farm’s Mark Chitty said.

“He won from 1200m – 1600m and was at his best on good ground.  He is by a Champion Sire, his damsire was a Champion Sire and Champion Broodmare Sire and importantly, he is a very good-looking horse.”

Ferlax will stand for a $7,000 (plus gst) fee.