Queensland’s perennially prolific RAHEEN STUD will field two exceptionally bred, Group 1 winning stallions in 2024 – TOP RANKED and HEROIC VALOUR.
In his first season at stud last spring, Top Ranked certainly caught the imagination of local breeders, ultimately attracting 109 mares.
It’s not hard to work out why … about as flashy a grey as they come and boasting tremendous athleticism, Top Ranked lived up to his looks on the track – on both sides of the equator.
A multiple stakes winner in the United Kingdom – and Group 1 placed – Top Ranked was sent to Annabel Neasham’s stables where, in just four starts, he ran a cracking third in the $1 million Hunter, captured the Group 3 Bill Ritchie and, at his final outing, won the time honoured Group 1 Epsom in a dead heat.
Annabel Neasham would declare: “Top Ranked was the best horse I’ve ever had – better than Zaaki – so that speaks volumes”, while Australian Bloodstock’s Luke Murrell claims “Top Ranked is the best horse we have ever purchased”.
Boasting a strong sires’ family, the fact that Top Ranked is by Dark Angel is not lost on breeders either.
A superstar back home, Dark Angel has produced over 100 stakes winners, but the rise and rise of Darley’s Harry Angel here in Australia – Tom Kitten, Stretan Angel, Arkansaw Kid et al – has broodmare owners keen to jump on board the Top Ranked express.
Harry Angel will stand this season at $38,500, while Raheen Stud has announced Top Ranked will remain at $7,700.
“We were understandably very happy to secure Top Ranked and guessed he’d be popular, but frankly we’ve been blown away by the support,” Raheen Stud’s Basil Nolan enthused.
“While numbers are very important, it’s not just the quantity but the quality of mare that was sent to him. We’ll be eagerly awaiting the first arrivals in spring but I’m happy to say that his fertility is outstanding with over 100 of the mares reported to be in foal.”
Top Ranked will stand alongside Fastnet Rock’s Group 1 winning 2YO, Heroic Valour, whose own 2YO city winners include Heroic Son and Mishani Persuasion, while Star Mac won on debut in Australia before running third in the Group 1 Hong Kong Classic Mile in February.
Importantly, Heroic Valour’s progeny from his biggest book to date will be 2YOs come August.
Heroic Valour stands this season at a fee of $5,500.
For further information, phone Basil Nolan at Raheen Stud on 0407 140 711 or visit www.raheenstud.com.au
