The response to our ‘red flags’ story regarding factual data from the Australian Studbook has led to a follow up story about a quality stallion that is perceived to have gone quiet, but as we mentioned in the previous story it’s tough to fight a battle when you have very few bullets.
Cox Plate winning sire Shamus Award started his stud career at Widden Stud in the Hunter Valley before switching to Rosemont Stud in Victoria for the 2019 season.
In the time between his move being announced and the start of the 2019 breeding season things were already looking up for Shamus Award and as a result he covered 149 mares that first year down south after a career low of 84 mares the previous spring at Widden with both of those crops of foals conceived off an $11,000 fee.
What this means is that his current crop of three year-olds (50 of them) are from his smallest and worst credentialled book of mares and the two year-olds while greater in number (92) are also from lesser quality mares.
Shamus Award runs at 6.5% SW to runner and has sired 21 stakes-winners. He has impressively produced five Group I winners from his first four crops including multiple Group I winners Incentivise ($5.7million), Duais ($3million) and Mr Quickie ($2million) to go with El Patroness ($1.2million) and Media Award.
The reality is his next two crops were always going to find it hard to match those achievements based on numbers and quality although only five of his current season two year-olds have raced for one winner so they are a blank canvas for next season.
That one two year old winner for Shamus Award appeals as a real watch horse as she is Kiwi bred filly Quintessa, who was bought by David Ellis for $170,000 at Karaka Book 1 and won on debut for Mark Walker at Pukekohe in March at her only start. Pedigree says Oaks filly, so she’s one for the Black Book.
Based on the numbers and quality of what’s to come it’s hard not to imagine Shamus Award is getting ready for an upswing and breeders that book a mare this year may reap the benefits.
Shamus Award is priced this spring at $60,500.
Footnote: Shamus Award has sired 80 winners of over $6milion in prizemoney this season including four stakes-winners.
