Last month’s Magic Millions figures for Redoute’s Choice yearlings spotlighted a potentially smart play now available to Australian breeders.
Australia’s three-time Champion Sire will serve a limited number of mares to Northern Hemisphere time commencing this month from his Hunter Valley home at Arrowfield Stud.
The growing international recognition of Redoute’s Choice was evident in the activity of three major United States buyers who purchased four of his 19 yearlings sold on the Gold Coast.
Kentucky bloodstock agent John Moynihan in association with James Harron paid $720,000 for Newhaven Park’s colt from Kidman.
Californian-based Jon Kelly joined Gai Waterhouse to purchase Broadwater Thoroughbreds’ Augusta Proud filly for $450,000 and, with Lee Freedman, signed for Arrowfield’s $500,000 filly from Line Honours.
B. Wayne Hughes’ Spendthrift Farm bought the Special Mission colt for $200,000 from Torryburn Stud.
These purchases are well-timed ahead of the sale later this year of the first Redoute’s Choice yearlings conceived during his two-year stint at The Aga Khan’s Haras de Bonneval in France.
Any European racing success by these two superbly bred northern crops will boost the already tremendous commercial appeal of northern-bred Redoute’s Choice yearlings conceived subsequently in Australia, particularly to the growing international buying bench.
The debut victory of his northern time-bred daughter Zestful in Sydney soon after the Magic Millions Sale demonstrated what’s also possible here in Australia. Trainer Sam Kavanagh has ambitious Autumn plans for the Arrowfield graduate who is raced by Paul Frampton and Widden Stud.
“We have already accepted a small number of northern time bookings to Redoute’s Choice from existing clients, so we’re pleased to extend that to other breeders interested in using him,” Arrowfield Chairman John Messara said.
“The support of the Aga Khan, among other powerful European and USA owners and breeders, and the outstanding quality of his two French books give Redoute’s Choice a solid platform for enduring global recognition.”
Of course, his legacy in Australia has been assured for some time, but Redoute’s Choice relentlessly continues to build his imposing southern hemisphere record. In the past three weeks he has notched up his 121st & 122nd stakes winners in 2YO colt Burnstone and 3YO filly Vavasour,
His 12% SW/Runners statistic has hardly budged since 2010.
Furthermore, Horse of the Year Lankan Rupee and Group 1 winners Bonaria, Hampton Court, Majmu, Royal Descent and Wylie Hall have all emerged among his 31 stakes winners within the past two years alone.
That still-unfolding record, last season’s historic third Australian Sires’ Premiership and the vaulting success of his sons and daughters at stud provide further incentive to book a northern time nomination to Redoute’s Choice at a special northern fee available upon application.