A third of the runners in this year’s $15million The Everest are by Swettenham Stud based sires past and present, but it’s their new recruit Wooded (IRE), who holds the promise of producing sprinting stars for the future.
A brilliantly fast speedster by Wootton Bassett that scored his career defining Group I win at three in the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp (1000m), Wooded is covering his first book of mares in Victoria this spring.
“He’s the only Group I winning first season stallion in Victoria this year and we’ve seen how popular his sire Wootton Bassett has been in NSW, so it’s not surprising Wooded is being supported by some of the nation’s most respected and successful breeders… and importantly their mares are all going in foal!” said Sam Matthews of Swettenham Stud.
Over 90% of the mares covered by Wooded have gone in foal first cycle and that’s important as we get deeper into the breeding season.
“Wooded’s fertility is as good as I’ve seen, a few of the mares he has got in foal have proven to be very difficult mares previously,” Matthews revealed.
“Any mare that has given us trouble in the past has been sent to him and to absolutely no surprise they are now in foal. This great fertility and strong libido has made his book very easy to manage and has freed up spots for breeders that have either been bumped or missed elsewhere.”
Standing at a fee of $22,000, Wooded joined the Swettenham Stud roster after two years in France at Haras de Bouquetot and his first Northern Hemisphere bred foals have greatly impressed their breeders.
"Our first foals by Wooded are consistently showing strength and depth as well as being good sized foals, proving quite similar to Wootton Bassett's progeny." - Benoit Jeffroy, Haras de Castillon & Haras de Bouquetot
"Our Wooded filly looks fast and strong. She has a great action, a deep shoulder, a good topline and hip-to-tail. She is well balanced." - Olivier Foucher, Domaine de Quetieville
"Our colt has real points of strength; he is good sized and well balanced with plenty of depth and bone." - Giulia Gariboldi, Haras de la Mercerie
Wooded has many positives to consider for the Australian breeder as a Danehill free outcross sire with his impressive physical scope sure to compliment the Australian mare pool. He is a genuine speed horse as reflected by his race record and is a C:C on the speed gene testing meaning his progeny should be best suited from 1000m to 1600m.
“He’s the fastest son of Wootton Bassett and we strongly believe he has what is required to produce these top class sprinters Swettenham has become renowned for,” Matthews concluded.
“We look forward to seeing his Everest runners in the years to come.”
Call Marcus Heritage (0429 632 397) for information and enquiries.
