Following on from a phenomenal year in the sales ring, which saw first crop Home Affairs yearlings sell for an aggregate of more than $31 million, fellow Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Switzerland will join him in the stallion barn in 2025.
An incredibly good-looking $1,500,000 Inglis Easter yearling, Switzerland announced himself early as one of the leading Golden Slipper contenders, with three straight wins culminating in a brilliant win in the G2 Todman Stakes.
As a three-year-old, Switzerland emulated Zoustar by winning the G2 Roman Consul Stakes and G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes double.
In doing so, he achieved a Timeform rating of 125, higher than the likes of fellow Coolmore Stud Stakes winners Zoustar, Northern Meteor, Sepoy and Brazen Beau.
Winning the Coolmore in a time of 1:08.03, Switzerland eclipsed a 20-year-old record in one of Australia’s most prestigious stallion-making races, prompting respected form analyst Daniel O’Sullivan to say, “his win in the Coolmore was a 106.3 rating, that was the dominant sprinter’s rating of the spring – three-year-olds, older horses, or anything.”
“Switzerland is a horse that we have been looking forward to standing at Coolmore for a long time. He was always the head of his class from when he was broken-in at the farm to when he first arrived in Chris Waller’s stable” commented Coolmore Australia’s Principal, Tom Magnier.
“He was a top-class two-year-old, the fastest ever winner of the Coolmore Stud Stakes and the highest-rated spring three-year-old ever by the great Snitzel.
“Physically, he is a stunning horse who we believe will be extremely easy for breeders to mate to, with a high-class American speed pedigree that lends itself to much of the Australian broodmare population.
“He is a very exciting addition to our roster and we will be supporting him with quality mares from the start.”
“He was a dream to ride” said James McDonald, “he had so much pace and an incredible turn of foot and he was push-button at that.
“I loved his demeanor. Just an incredibly talented sprinter with a super attitude.”
“As his price tag suggests, he was an absolute standout at the sales. The whole team were adamant we should have him,” commented trainer Chris Waller.
“He had so much presence, just a big, strong handsome colt with a beautiful action and what a racehorse he turned into! They couldn’t touch him in the Todman … and he was electric again in the Coolmore. Switzerland is a very special horse. I can’t wait to see what he does in the next chapter!”
Switzerland will stand at an introductory fee of $60,500 (inc. GST).
