Little Avondale Stud created a slice of New Zealand racing history when they successfully brokered a deal to stand Little Brose at their Wairarapa farm.
Principals Sam and Catriona Wiliams pulled off a breeding coup with the high-class colt, the first ever Australian Group One-winning two-year-old over 1200m to debut at stud in this country.
He will stand his first season in 2025 at $15,000 + GST alongside his sire and stud stalwart Per Incanto, who off the back of a stellar season will serve a limited book of 85 mares at the increased fee of $60,000 + GST.
Little Brose’s two-year-old season was highlighted by his victory in the Gr.1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), having earlier claimed the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m).
“There’s been a lot of interest and to have a Blue Diamond winner going to stud at $15,000 is unheard of,” Sam Williams said.
“Redoute’s Choice and Extreme Choice won it and so did Written By and Tagaloa, who both had stakes winners at the weekend, it’s a real stallion making race.
“There were seven stakes horses to come out of Little Brose’s Blue Diamond and he beat Cylinder in the Merson Cooper, and he went on to run second in the Golden Slipper (Gr.1, 1200m) and win the Newmarket (Gr.1 1200m).”
Major New Zealand stud farms were fast out of the gates to support Little Brose, who will make his first public parade at Little Avondale on May 15.
“Little Brose was syndicated quickly through Cambridge Stud, Elsdon Park, Hallmark, Haunui Farm, Milan Park, Ardsley, Windsor Park, Mapperley, Beaufort Downs, Inglewood, Woburn Farm, Rich Hill, Goodwood, Fairdale and Novara Park,” Williams said.
“There are a couple overseas as well with Sledmere Stud, who sold Little Brose as a yearling, and Ben Kwok of Singapore, involved.”
Purchased for A$200,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Lindsay Park, the colt returned from his outstanding juvenile campaign to place in the Gr.3 McNeil Stakes (1200m).
He then relocated from Ben, Will and JD Hayes’ stable to join their father David’s Sha Tin operation and finished runner-up in his second appearance before suffering a career ending injury.
“I think we were lucky to get a deal done with Little Brose very early after he had arrived back in Australia, otherwise I feel we would have struggled to compete against some of the Australian studs,” Williams said.
Little Brose is a son of the American-bred stakes winner Mohegan Sky, whose pedigree page features the Gr.1 Tatt’s Winter Stakes (1400m) winner Absolut Glam.
Per Incanto has enjoyed another royal innings on and off the track this season.
“His yearlings this year, off a $50,000 service fee, averaged $207,000 across the big five sales and a recent average of A$425,000 at Sydney Easter with a high of A$650,000,” Williams said.
“Sale results only come by success on the track, and he’s had Group One winners Jimmysstar and Gringotts and a quartet of Group Two winners.”
By Paul Vettise, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
