Leading Kentucky stallion Stormy Atlantic sired his first Australian winner when Catlantic broke through at Belmont Park on Wednesday.

Catlantic (3c Stormy Atlantic – Windstruck by Smart Strike) was conceived at Hill ‘N’ Dale Stud in Lexington and arrived in Australia with his dam as a weanling in December 2006.

The Kentucky bred colt is giving up to six month away to his Australian bred rivals but that didn’t prevent him scoring an all the way win in the Westspeed Hcp over 1400m.

Catlantic is trained by Neville Parnham for leading owner-breeders Lex and Shirley Piper and Graham and Chris Daws.  The Pipers have significant interests in several WA stallions, particularly with Mungrup Stud.  And the Daws’ struck gold when they imported champion sire Bletchley Park to WA in 1993.

Stormy Atlantic (Storm Cat) regularly ranks in the Top 10 of the North American sires’ premiership.  His first juveniles appeared in 2002 and there have been 481 winners (53 SW) to date at a sensational 72% strike-rate.  He stands for a $35,000 fee at Hill ‘N’ Dale.

Catlantic’s dam Windstruck is a sister to Strike Softly who was a G2 winner of the Nassau Stakes at Woodbine.  She has foaled colts by Mossman and Fastnet Rock since arriving in Australia.  The Mossman was sold to Aquanita Racing for $100,000 at the Perth Magic Millions earlier this year.