News

Premier Sires

22nd Feb 2006

ENCOSTA DE LAGO has made the Premier sale his own in recent years, sustaining an uncontested stranglehold on the top-lots, while his graduates excel on the track.

On a record-breaking opening day in Melbourne last year, Encosta de Lago was responsible for eight of the nine lots bringing $200,000 or more, including the new Premier Sale record price of $480,000.

Five months later he created history becoming the first Australian bred sire to record over 200 winners in one season.

Such was the impact of the Fairy King stallion that in 2004 Coolmore bought out their fellow syndicate members to relocate him from Blue Gum Farm, his home since retiring in 1997, to their Hunter Valley base, where he stood for $132,000 in 2005.

Next week’s Premier sale showcases 32 yearlings from Encosta De Lago’s final Victorian crop - arguably the best book he covered while standing there.

Among them are six lots out of stakes winning mares, while a full-brother to the multiple Group 1 winner Lashed is sure to be one of the highlights of his representatives with stakes-winning siblings.

Progeny of first crop sires Choisir and Bel Esprit dominated the Inglis Classic sale, with Chilean import Hussonet not far behind. All three are well represented at Premier along with Victorian based first croppers Dash For Cash and Delago Brom who both have over 20 yearlings catalogued.

Fellow new boy Johannesburg is also high on numbers with 20 listed, while local second season sire Testa Rossa boasts 23.

Galileo’s first Australian two-year-olds are already making an impact on the track, while his popularity continues to abound in the sale ring. The Sadler’s Wells stallion has 16 yearlings due to sell at the Premier including a number with stakes-winning relations.

Late Blue Gum sire Rubiton is not high on numbers but claims two lots with Group 1 winning siblings, namely lot 239 a full-sister to Rubitano and lot 483, a half-sister to 2004/05 champion juvenile Fashions Afield.

Blue Gum roster mate King Charlemagne also boasts a brace with Group 1 winners under their first dams; lot 112 a half-brother to Bohemiath and lot 176, a half-brother to The A Train.

General Nediym is having an outstanding year with his juveniles headlined by 2005 Premier sale graduates I Got Chills and Follow The Till. The Widden sire has 13 to represent him.