Rosemont Stud’s Shamus Award is enjoying a ground breaking personal best season and for those breeders considering the Cox Plate winner for their mares this spring this nick is one you should probably consider.
Results from recent weeks have put the spotlight on Shamus Award over daughters of More Than Ready (USA) with the nick currently running at 100% success with five winners from five runners and those winners include Group I SAJC Australasian Oaks winner Media Award, last Saturday’s Group III winner Mimi’s Award and Group III placed Need New Friends.
The success of the nick is probably no real surprise as More Than Ready and Redoute’s Choice combine in the pedigrees of 31 stakes-winners highlighted by Group I winners Miracles of Life, Celebrity Queen, Amphitrite and Media Award.
The particular success involving Shamus Award and More Than Ready though is interesting given the physical similarities between the two stallions, both are near black, well refined thoroughbreds with a good level of scope which you often see in their offspring.
The sire of over 200 stakes-winners worldwide, More Than Ready was as adept at getting middle distance and classic horses as he was at getting fast juveniles and that versatility is a quality that should be prized in the genetic landscape we now encounter where the majority of our active champion sires rarely get a winner beyond a mile.
Likewise, Shamus Award has similar versatility that allows him to produce a steady stream of sprinter milers and some really classy stayers such as dual Group I winner Mr Quickie and Derby and Oaks place-getters Soul Patch and Duais.
