Following another terrific season of racing results, the Whishaw family are ecstatic to announce the return of their Group One sire Needs Further who will head Armidale Stud's stallion roster in 2021.
A rise in popularity following his early success as a sire saw Needs Further stand at Aquis Farm's Victorian operation during the 2020 breeding season, however, with Aquis's relocation of their Victorian operation, Needs Further will return to Armidale Stud.
"The demand for Needs Further remains high and we want to ensure we're providing Tasmanian and mainland breeders with easier access to him," explained Studmaster David Whishaw.
"We're a passionate, family-run stud and pour our heart and soul into everything we do here at Armidale. The horses and stallions become part of the family so it's great to have our boy back with us in Tasmania."
Needs Further has enjoyed another superb season and has sired countless winners including Group One winner and 2020 G2 Stocks Stakes winner Mystic Journey. From just a few racing crops he has sired five individual Stakes winners that have notched up thirteen Stakes wins between them.
His best-performed progeny include Mystic Journey, Group winner Deroche, Flemington Stakes winner Bold Star, plus two-year-old Stakes winners Mystical Pursuit and Pateena Arena.
"It's very pleasing to see him consistently producing winners across Australia. Victorian metro winners All Of Brighton and Raise 'em Up, plus five-time current season metro winner Supalopo are just a few of his recent winners that shouldn't be taken lightly," said David.
His success as a stallion comes as no surprise being by Sire of Sires Encosta de Lago whose sons include fellow Group producing stallions Northern Meteor, Rubick, Manhattan Rain and Road To Rock.
Providing exceptional value for breeders is a priority for Armidale Stud who have elected to stand Needs Further at a fee of $8,800 inc GST in 2021.
See the Breednet sire profile page for Needs Further.
The popularity of Armidale's exciting resident sire Alpine Eagle continues to grow with the son of High Chaparral breaking the Tasmanian record for the highest number of mares served in a season in 2020 (138 mares covered).
Alpine Eagle's increasing popularity is a testament to the quality he is putting into his progeny.
"He consistently leaves attractive, correct types and breeders have been thoroughly impressed with the quality he stamps throughout his stock. Like him, they're athletic, have great temperaments and most have inherited his rich, dark colour which adds extra appeal," said David.
With his oldest crop only two-year-old's, his progeny figures are tracking in a similar trend to Group One producing High Chaparral stallions So You Think, Dundeel, Contributer and Toronado at the same stage of their careers.
"So You Think, Dundeel and Contributer didn't sire a Group One winner until their oldest crop were three-year-old's. The High Chaparral sire line tends to leave Classic types and going off the feedback from trainers, Alpine Eagle's progeny are expected to come into their own during their three-year-old season," said David.
"As a Studmaster, it's great to see trainers taking their time with a stallion's progeny. On pedigree and type, they were always expected to be better at three but it's encouraging to see that many of his two-year-old's have been given educational trials and runs ahead of their Classic season."
Bred on the same cross as leading young sire Dundeel (High Chaparral/Zabeel), Alpine Eagle has a pedigree that has proven to work. This is already evident through the feats achieved by his multiple two-year-old trial winners Alpine Blast, Dawn Eagle, Queenborough Flyer and the Alpine Eagle x Must Be Mink filly.
In the sales ring, Alpine Eagle's yearlings were again highly sought after and sold for up to $110,000. Providing an excellent return on investment for breeders, his average yearling sale price at the Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale was up from 2020 with his yearlings selling for an average price of $46,167 (8.5 times his service fee).
His 2021 yearlings were purchased by some of Australia's best judges, including John Foote, Denise Martin's Star Thoroughbreds, McEvoy Mitchell Racing, Roll The Dice Racing, Suman Hedge, Will Clarken and Swettenham Stud, just to name a few.
Alpine Eagle's fee will remain unchanged for 2021 at $6,050 inc GST.
Go to our sire profile page for Alpine Eagle.
Armidale's stalwart stallion Tough Speed will remain open for stud duties in 2021. A model of consistency, Tough Speed boasts a winners/runners strike rate just shy of 60 per cent and from limited numbers, has sired sixteen Stakes performers, five of which are Stakes winners.
He’s an incredibly versatile stallion and his current season Stakes performers include G3 Launceston Cup (2400m) placegetter White Hawk and Listed Newmarket Handicap (1200m) placegetter Street Tough.
Tough Speed is also an emerging broodmare sire with his daughter Buzzing Along leaving 10-time winner Deroche. Winner of the G3 Vamos Stakes among multiple other Stakes placings, she has amassed over $420,000 in earnings for Star Thoroughbreds.
"Tough Speed has been a phenomenal stallion and as his namesake suggests, he is renowned for producing tough, durable horses that win time and time again," said David.
Tough Speed will again stand for a fee of $2,750 inc GST in 2021.
See the sire profile for Tough Speed.
Enquiries for the 2021 breeding season are most certainly welcomed. If you would like to book or discuss your mare's breeding options, please get in touch with David on +61 407 868 269 or Rhiannon on +61 438 302 056.
