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The latest Australian stallion farm to join TrueNicks is Arrowfield, the Hunter Valley powerhouse whose roster is headed by champion sire Redoute’s Choice.

Winner of the Blue Diamond Stakes (gr. I) in two starts at 2, Redoute's Choice (AUS) (TrueNicks,SRO) earned a title as champion Australasian 3-year-old miler the following year, capturing the Caulfield Guineas (gr. I, video below), C. F. Orr Stakes (gr. I), and Manikato Stakes (gr. I). Australia’s leading stallion son of Danehill, Redoute’s Choice has twice earned honors as champion sire, and has been represented by 73 stakes winners, no less than 20 of them group I winners. That roll of honor includes champions Miss Finland, Samantha Miss, Fashions Afield, and Stratum, as well as Lotteria, Snitzel, Melito, and most recently New Zealand filly of the year King’s Rose and the AJC Australian Oaks (gr. I) heroine Absolutely.

Redoute’s Choice has also quickly established himself as an exciting sire of sires, and Arrowfield is home to three of his sons. Snitzel (AUS) (TrueNicks,SRO) – by Redoute’s Choice out of the stakes-winning and multiple graded stakes-producing Snippets mare Snippets’ Lass – was a record-breaking sprint star whose victories included the Oakleigh Plate (gr. I). A leading first and second crop sire, he has already been represented by 11 stakes performers, including Silver Slipper (gr. II) captress Chance Bye and stakes winner Zelsnitz in his first crop. From his second crop are current 2-year-old stars Salade, successful in the Pago Pago Stakes (gr. II), and Hot Snitzel, a stakes winner who is also multiple graded placed.

A sprint stakes winner by Redoute’s Choice out of a half sister to Snippets, Not A Single Doubt (AUS) (TrueNicks,SRO) certainly has a stallion’s pedigree, and that has been borne out by his rapid rise through the ranks of Australia’s leading young sires. He is currently the leading Australian sire of 2-year-olds, and along with High Chaparral and Fastnet Rock is one of Australia’s top three third crop sires. His offspring already include this year’s BMW Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic laureate Karuta Queen, and graded stakes winners Doubtful Jack, Squamosa, and Castlethorpe. With the better mares his early success has attracted, Not A Single Doubt is very much a horse to keep an eye on.

Arrowfield’s third son of Redoute’s Choice is the newly-retired Beneteau (AUS) (TrueNicks), a A$1 million yearling purchase who is out of a stakes-placed sister to champion Alinghi. A paddock injury suffered during a spell after his juvenile campaign cut short Beneteau’s career, but his efforts at 2 showed him to be among the best of his generation. An impressive debut winner, he gained group honors with a win in the Blue Diamond Prelude (gr. III). He subsequently underlined his merit when beaten only half a length by Star Witness in the Blue Diamond Stakes (gr. I), and finishing just two lengths behind winner Crystal Lily in the Golden Slipper (gr. I).

The Danehill line is also represented at Arrowfield by Flying Spur and Danzero, both winners of the Golden Slipper (gr. I). Like Redoute’s Choice, Flying Spur (AUS) (TrueNicks,SRO) has carried off the champion sire crown. Flying Spur’s stud record shows that he has sired 81 stakes winners, 12 of them group 1, among them champion Forensics, as well as Mentality, Magnus, Inspiration, Casino Prince and Alverta. Flying Spur is now also showing a lot of promise as broodmare sire, with his daughters having produced such as juvenile champions Sebring and Headway.

Danzero (AUS) (TrueNicks,SRO)’s roster of stakes winners includes champions Dance Hero and Fairway, and group I scorers Niconero, Danglissa, Danni Martine, and Jymcarew.

Of course, Arrowfield also offers some exciting alternatives to the Danehill line. One who is already proving himself as a great cross for Danehill is Starcraft (NZ) (TrueNicks,SRO). A grandson of Nureyev, Starcraft was not only champion 3-year-old colt in Australasia, but established himself as world co-champion turf miler, winning the Prix du Moulin (gr. I) in France, and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (gr. I) in England. Starcraft has made cracking start with his first two Southern Hemisphere crops, which include seven stakes winners, among them Star Witness, a group I winner at 2 and 3, the standout two-time group I-winnng New Zealand filly We Can Say It Now, and group scorers Starcheeka, Do You Think, and Crafty Irna. Tellingly, three of his stakes winners, including Star Witness, are out of mares by Danehill or his sons.

Winner of the Sires’ Produce Stakes (gr. I, video below), Manhattan Rain (AUS) (TrueNicks,SRO) also strikes as having great potential to cross with Danehill. A half brother to Redoute’s Choice and group I winner Platinum Scissors (both by Danehill), he is by champion sire Encosta de Lago, himself responsible for 11 group winners out of Danehill line mares. Manhattan Rain, who also won the Skyline Stakes (gr. III), and placed in four grade one events, will be in his second season in 2011.

Another sire line that is enjoying success with Danehill is that of Red Ransom, and the son of Roberto is represented at Arrowfield by Charge Forward and All American. Charge Forward (AUS) (TrueNicks,SRO), out of the group I-winning Bletchingly mare Sydney’s Dream, was a juvenile group winner who was beaten just a short neck in the Golden Slipper (gr. I), and who trained on to take The Galaxy (gr. I) at 3. Charge Forward is off to a terrific start with his first three crops containing such as champion 2-year-old filly Headway, the multiple group I-winner Response, group scorers Shrapnel and Solar Charger, and the group I-placed stakes winner Fort Lincoln. Three of his stakes winners are out of Danehill line mares with Headway and Fort Lincoln both being from daughters of Flying Spur.

About to commence his second season at stud is All American (AUS) (TrueNicks,SRO), winner of the Emirates Cantala Stakes (gr. I) – beating So You Think, while setting a new race record – Skyline Stakes (gr. III) and St. Albans Stakes. A half brother to Golden Slipper-placed group stakes winner More Strawberries, All American is out of Milva, a daughter Strawberry Road, and Mr. Prospector’s champion French 2-year-old filly Tersa, herself the dam of promising young sire Rock Hard Ten.

Filed under: Announcements, Sires, Australia