The use of stallions in their second season has led to the conception of some outstanding racetrack performers including Champion 2YO’s, Champion 3YO’s, Champion Stayers, Champion Sprinters and Champion Sires of the future.
Winners of iconic races such as the Golden Slipper, Melbourne Cup, Australian Guineas, Australian Derby, Rosehill Guineas and Doncaster were all bred from the second crop of stallions that have often gone on to achieve greatness.
First foals offer breeders the chance to test the waters and if they like what they see, a stallion often does even better with his second crop as breeders support their intuition of impending success with quality mares.
Aquis have four outstanding young sires that fit the second crop profile in dual Group I winning sprinter Brave Smash (Jpn) as well as Santos (I Am Invincible), Performer (Exceed and Excel) and Lean Mean Machine (Zoustar), the last trio all sons of champion sires.
Early reports on their progeny have been glowing.
Brave Smash in particular has found plenty of favour with the following comments from well satisfied breeders!
“We have switched over a further five mares to Brave Smash.”
“We could not have wished for a better start.”
“Great scope and athleticism.”
“I hope they’re all like this, then you know you’re onto a good thing.”
"The Brave Smash foal from Mead is a good size with plenty of strength and quality about him. He shows great scope and athleticism to develop as he matures,” said Alison Hush of Davali Thoroughbreds.
“He has good bone and conformation, it's hard to knock him on anything really. We are expecting quite a few Brave Smash foals this season and we will be very happy if they are all as good as this colt"
As a stunning son of I Am Invincible, Santos is producing the goods!
“We’ve had three Santos foals arrive so far this season, and what an impressive group they are! They are strong, correct, lovely bodied foals with great bone under them. They'll develop into exceptional weanlings, and best of all they're athletic...Santos has really stamped these foals," said Verna Metcalfe of Middlebrook Valley Lodge.
"Lovely strong attractive filly with good conformation. She's a cracker maiden foal. We will definitely be using Santos again in the future," said David Morrisey of Cannon Hayes Stud.
The only son of champion sire Zoustar at stud in Victoria, Lean Mean Machine has stamped his foals!
“I have had three Lean Mean Machine foals so far this season and they are magnificent. He has stamped his stock and he can throw a type. As good as any other foals on my farm!” said Paul Kelly of Ponderosa Park.
Performer is also hitting the mark with his quality foals.
“We are extremely excited to be a part of Performer’s first crop with this stunning colt out of But Perfect,” said Hopetoun Bloodstock’s Murray Webster.
“Performer is a talented, well put together son of Exceed And Excel and out of a Group 1-producing Snippets mare and he has certainly stamped his foals with his best attributes, speed, precocity and type.
"I expect his first yearlings to sell extremely well and I have no hesitation recommending Performer to my clients as a breeding option in 2020.”
To view more Aquis first crop foal videos, click here.
