July 15 is a significant date in the career of Bowness Stud resident sire D’Argento as it’s the anniversary of his debut win as a 2-year-old at Newcastle back in 2017.
Following three trials, one of which proved to be a victory over 900 metres as early as December 2016 during his juvenile season, D’Argento stepped out for his first race start five years ago to the day and duly scored over 1200 metres in a 10 horse field.
The performance provided a taste of what was to come over the next couple of seasons for the Chris Waller-trained grey. Five-to-six lengths adrift of the leader well into the Broadmeadow straight, D’Argento flew over the closing stages to win going away — the final 600m sectional being registered as a sharp 34.53s on a Soft 6 racing surface.
Two weeks later D’Argento backed-up his debut juvenile success with his maiden metropolitan win, scoring over 1500 metres at Rosehill Gardens under Hugh Bowman and maintaining his unbeaten 2-year-old record.
That the son of So You Think (NZ) twice won as a juvenile adds considerably to his appeal as one of the more promising young stallion prospects in the domestic sire ranks. Precocity is not readily associated with the offspring of So You Think (NZ) or his sire High Chaparral (Ire) for that matter, so it’s worth remembering that D’Argento was produced by the Listed Debutante Stakes (900m) winner Fullazz and has a distaff line that features three champion sires of 2YOs — Redoute’s Choice (two-time Leading Aust. Sire of 2YOs), Kenmare (three-time Leading Fr. Sire of 2YOs) and Without Fear (Leading Aust. Sire of 2YOs in 1975/76).
According to the two people most responsible for D’Argento’s stud career, the early indications are that the Bowness Stud resident stallion is siring offspring with very similar physical attributes to make an impact when the time comes for them to compete in the 2-year-old division.
With his first crop soon to begin a yearling sale preparation and the second just about to hit the ground, stud principals John North and (son-in-law) James Daly like what they see in a breed with sufficient early development to win races as juveniles before training-on to realise their full potential as 3-year-olds and older horses.
The driving force in securing D’Argento for stud duties, North is the stallion’s No. 1 fan and speaks of his first-crop offspring in glowing terms. “Most of his foals have shown plenty of early maturity,” the popular studmaster points out. “They appear to be quick learners with a lot more strength behind the saddle than most of the So You Think breed. I believe the foals from the speed line mares will go quick, and go early, like D’Argento himself.”
Daly is of a similar opinion. Having worked with the first-crop of D’Argento virtually every day for the past 11 months, he’s is of the same view as North.
“I’m seeing a consistent spread of D’Argento weanlings that have well-muscled forearms,” Daly says. “Plenty of mass overlaying the croup and well-proportioned cannons. It would not surprise me if D’Argento got his share of precocious two year old’s because of the many desirable traits in the types he throws, which will offer great versatility.”
Daly added: “They’re fantastic to handle, move fluidly and display determination.”
Five years might have flown since D’Argento first burst on the season as a debut winning 2-year-old, but the next five years can’t come around quick enough for North, Daly and everyone associated with Bowness Stud.
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