Willowbend Stud will add brilliant stakes winning sprinter Southwestern Heat (USA) to its stallion roster for 2009.  The deal was completed by Byron Rogers of Pedigree Consultants and Willowbend owner David Lucas earlier this week.

Southwestern Heat is a stakes winning son of leading sire Gone West and was raised by the world renowned Taylor Made Farm.  He was a $600,000 Keeneland September Yearling.

A winner on both dirt and turf, and a stakes winner over 1200m, Southwestern Heat is from Champion 3yo filly Xtra Heat who won 26 races from 1000m to 1400m.  She is widely regarded as the best 3yo sprinting filly in North America for the last 10 years.

“We have raised all the foals out of Xtra Heat and she just gets an outstanding type,” Taylor Made Farm’s Frank Taylor said.  “Southwestern Heat was a stunning type from day one and if he gets stock like him and his mother they will be well sought after in the sales ring and on the racetrack.”

Southwestern Heat had the precocity and explosive speed you would expect from his genetic inheritance.  He is a strongly built, muscular type and is typical of what Australian breeders look for in a successful stallion.

“Willowbend has built its reputation on standing sound tough sprinters,” Lucas said.  “Southwestern Heat was one of the fastest horses in North America in his year and he is out of a mare that is widely considered one of the best sprinters ever.  We are sure that he will be well received by breeders and trainers alike.”

Southwestern Heat will stand alongside the proven stallion Clang as well as Natural Destiny, Rock of Cashel and Nothing to Lose (USA) at Willowbend.  His 2009 fee will be $4,400 (inc gst).  A limited number of shares will be available in the stallion.