Spendthrift Australia will transfer five mares to Kentucky next month in a move that underlines its rapid progress since establishing an Australian base at Romsey less than two years ago.
Last-start stakes performer Ameristralia is one of the mares being relocated and she will be covered by a Spendthrift stallion in the current northern-hemisphere season. Spendthrift owner B Wayne Hughes stands 27 stallions in North America headed by champion sire Malibu Moon who is fast-closing on a century of stakes winners and the up and coming sire Into Mischief.
Ameristralia (Fastnet Rock) completed a hat-trick at Caulfield in October, added another city win at Moonee Valley last month and then bowed out with an all-important Group 3 placing in the Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 11.
She is in quarantine with a valuable cargo of mares heading to Spendthrift’s headquarters in Lexington. Joining her are Group 3 Tranquil Stakes winner Lady Of Harrods (Dubawi), Listed Morphettville Guineas winner Forever Discreet (Bernardini), Stakes placed Rosehill winner Cana (Fastnet Rock) and Krupt’s sister Prairy Kat (Flying Spur).
Spendthrift’s push to be a major industry player in Australia works both ways.
“Besides shuttling stallions, Mr Hughes has sent us over a dozen well-bred USA mares in foal to southern hemisphere time,” Australian general-manager Garry Cuddy said this week. “And we will continue to build our own broodmare band here at the Inglis and Magic Millions sales this year.”
Spendthrift’s Victorian roster will continue to evolve with its Australian-bred colts like Swear, Redouble and Into Orbit being groomed to enhance the line-up. “When we buy any yearling you want it to perform well on the track and we have been quite lucky to date” Cuddy added. “We also have the right staff in place at the farm and are at a point where we are currently advertising for an assistant stud manager to help support our expansion.”
Swear (Redoute’s Choice) won the Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) at Randwick in September. He’s from NZ Karaka Million winner Crossyourheart (Show a Heart) and cost $725,000 at the 2015 Inglis Easter yearling sale.
Redouble (Redoute’s Choice) scored a landmark first win in the stud’s orange and purple colours at Canterbury in April before finishing third in the Listed Hampden Stakes at Doomben. He holds a Group 1 nomination for the Australian Guineas on March 4.
Into Orbit (Northern Meteor) is another black-type colt with Team Hawkes. He was runner-up in the Group 3 Manfred Stakes last time out and will attempt to go one better in the Group 3 Zeditave Stakes at Caulfield this Saturday. His dam is a half-sister to leading Queensland stallion Hidden Dragon.
Saturday’s Melbourne meeting will also give Spendthrift colt Will’s Bid (Fastnet Rock) his chance to grab a Group 1 in the Blue Diamond Stakes. He won on debut at Geelong on Boxing Day and is a half-brother to champion international sprinter Starspangledbanner.
SWEAR