Emirates Park are committed to giving their young sire Tassort every opportunity to succeed in a joint venture with Newgate Farm and they’re no strangers to success at the business of creating a successful Group I producing stallion that can stand the test of time.
The epitome of the bread and butter sire, Emirates Park bred and raced Al Maher more than held his own on the racetrack winning the Group I VRC Australian Guineas, but arguably his greatest feats have come in the breeding barn. Now retired from official duty, he stood his last four seasons at a modest $8,800, amazing value for a 3/4 brother to one of the most influential sires since the turn of the century in Redoute’s Choice. Hindsight is a beautiful thing isn’t it.
And if you thought he was going quietly, think again. Fresh off the back of a stakes double last weekend Al Maher has sired 10 individual winners, two of which at black type level, from just the 31 runners so far this season. Pretty impressive for an old guy!
Known for their toughness and versatility, the stock of Al Maher are held in high regard and his success as a broodmare sire has ensured his legacy will live on.
The flag bearer of recent times for Al Maher is modern day warhorse Private Eye. Back to winning ways last Saturday in the Group II ATC The Shorts, his earnings sit just shy of the $7million mark.
Other notable gallopers sired in the twilight of his career include Chassis winner of the Gai Waterhouse classic(fittingly enough), Jo Jo Was A Man, Pearl Rain, interesting staying prospect California Grass and Grey River, who was successful last weekend in the Listed SAJC Wylie Hcp at Morphettville.
And he’s not done yet. Ground Braker will contest the Listed Boulder Cup on Sunday to try and add yet another black type winner for Al Maher and with the Everest around the corner, his greatest feat may still be yet to come.
In the words of the great Leo Di Caprio, “The show goes on.”
