Australia, the champion racehorse
His racetrack heroics remain fresh in the memory, his appeal undiminished. Now the thoroughbred world is welcoming the first sons and daughters of Australia, the champion racehorse anointed as the heir apparent to his talismanic sire Galileo.
At the time of writing 36 foals have been born across Ireland, England and France and that tally will climb sharply in the coming months after breeders rushed to support him in his maiden season at stud. Almost 180 mares were covered by Australia at a service fee of €50,000 a mare, making him one of the list notable young stallions in the world today.
The China Horse Club were among leading breeders to have supported Australia, joining a list of luminaries from across Europe and the United States. In all members of the club sent eight mares to the 2015 Longines IFHA Co-World Champion Three-Year-Old making him the most supported stallion for the club in any market in 2015.
“We may never fully appreciate the impact Australia has had in growing awareness of international racing in China and in encouraging Chinese to race overseas. We own him a great debt of gratitude,” said Teo Ah Khing, Chairman of the China Horse Club.
“But beyond that he is a horse our club and our members have a wonderful attachment to. He was truly world class and we believe he can reproduce his excellence through his sons and daughters.
“There was never any doubt that we would add our weight to leading breeders across the Northern Hemisphere.”
No less than 61 group winners or group producing mares were covered by Australia in his maiden season, 19 at G1 level. The quality of support ensures the Coolmore Stud based sire has every chance to deliver upon the belief that he is the heir apparent to the great Galileo.
“The foals born so far have inherited their fathers qualities, while it is clearly evident to see the dominance and likeness to the Galileo foals,” said Michael Wallace, Head of Bloodstock and Racing at the China Horse Club.
“We couldn’t be happier with our foals born so far and look forward to a number to come. The quality of foals we have seen to date ensures we are supporting him again in 2016 and I know we aren’t alone.”
The China Horse Club’s support for Australia remains unwavering in the Year of the Monkey. The chestnut will again be among the most strongly supported stallions this year by members even when taking into account the going retirement to stud of high profile Australian based trio Press Statement, Vancouver and Pride of Dubai, the recent retirement of Kentucky (USA) based Daredevil, 2015 Australian Horse of the Year Dissident, G1 winner Wandjina, boom sprinter Deep Field and the new shareholding in the French based sire sensation Siyouni.
Australia was a triple G1 winner of more than £2 million emerging as a leading force among his generation with successive wins in the G1 Investec Derby, G1 Irish Derby and G1 Juddmonte International Stakes and while champion racehorses do not always translate to becoming champion sites there is a tsunami of opinions that believe he will be just that. Add weight to their argument is a genetic tableau that knows few equals. His sire Galileo has been peerless for more than a decade. The undisputed world champion stallion has sat atop his throne for almost 14 years having generated a production line of stars that have won more than 100 G1 races worldwide. Heading the list of luminaries is Frankel, regarded by many as the greatest racehorse of all time, and the list is a weighty one.
His dam is almost his equal. Ouija Board was a world champion race mare, dominating her generation at home in Britain before moving onto the international stage and carrying that dominance to North America and Hong Kong. In all, seven G1s among her 10 victories from only 22 starts.
In 2016 Australia will again be standing at €50,000 at Coolmore in Ireland (http://coolmore.com/stallions/australia-gb/?farm=ireland).
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