Vinery Stud has secured a significant shareholding in Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown.  A son of the Danzig sprinter Boundary, he currently standing at Three Chimneys Stud in Kentucky.

Vinery’s Peter Orton announced Big Brown will shuttle to Vinery Stud in the Hunter Valley later this year subject to shareholder approval.

Big Brown was only defeated once in 8 starts and amassed over $US3.6 million in prizemoney.  He debuted as a two year-old with an 11 length victory at Saratoga and returned the following year to become the champion colt of his generation.

Big Brown won the G1 Florida Derby by five lengths and followed up with a four length triumph in the G1 Kentucky Derby despite sitting three and four-wide for most of the journey.

All eyes were on Big Brown leading up to the Preakness Stakes and he delivered once more when cantering home by five lengths.

A severely quartered hoof prevented Big Brown from sweeping the Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes but he returned to racing a two months later for G1 victories in the Haskell Invitational and Monmouth Stakes on turf.

A handsome and imposing individual, Big Brown is a son of Boundary (Danzig) who boasts a 78% winners-to-runners strike-rate.  He also carries four crosses of Selene, the fourth dam of Sir Tristram.  

“It is a great thrill to be standing a horse of his calibre,” Orton said.  “He was a superior racehorse with a devastating turn of foot.  Even more appealing to us is his pedigree.  He’s bred to run on turf yet brilliant enough to beat the best on their terms on dirt.  What might this horse have achieved in the European classics?

“After inspecting Big Brown last week, I’m delighted to say he exceeded my expectations on conformation and his suitability to the Australasian style of racing.  He stands just on 16.1 hands, possesses a particularly kind temperament and handles himself in the covering barn like a real professional.

“The most pleasing aspect for the future of this stallion is the quality of his first foals that are now arriving in Kentucky.  They are all strong compact types with good strong shoulders and powerful hindquarters, typical of the Danzig line progeny we see here that are so successful in our conditions.”

A service fee for Big Brown will be announced in due course.