To suggest Australian breeders embraced Officiating when he arrived at Aquis Farm in 2024 would be something of an understatement.
In two years he’s covered 215 mares and, importantly, a whole host of them are either stakes horses themselves or dams thereof.
And it’s not hard to work out why Officiating is such an attractive prospect … he was a tremendous racehorse – a 3-time Group winner in the US – and is a son of the major talent source in Blame, an Eclipse Champion Racehorse who is already the sire of six individual Group 1 winners.
But the most alluring part for so many breeders? … he’s totally free of Danehill blood. Aquis is calling it the ‘Outcross Advantage’ with good reason.
“Officiating has really exceeded our expectations physically with his first crop,” Aquis Farm’s Director of Sales Jonathan Davies points out.
“They’re strong, athletic weanlings with plenty of substance and quality, and importantly they look like the sort of horses the market can get behind.
“We’ve been very pleased with the support breeders have shown him from day one and we think these weanlings justify that confidence. There’s a good level of consistency through the crop and they’ve generally inherited plenty of strength and presence.
“He’s a horse we’ve always felt had the right profile for the Queensland market and beyond – a tough, high-class son of Blame with an international pedigree and the type to match.”
Now buyers will have the opportunity to see what all of the above can truly promise when eight weanlings by Officiating are offered at the 2026 Gold Coast Magic Millions National Weanling Sale on Sunday.
First cab off the rank (Lot 6) is an exceptionally well bred first foal of 2YO winning Snitzel mare, Klum. This will be of particular interest to anyone watching the recent Sydney autumn carnival when the Gerry Harvey bred and raced, Campione D’Italia, captured the Group 1 Sires’ Produce. Klum is a full sister to Campione D’Italia.
Lots of interest too in the Officiating colt (Lot 252) from Canny Lassie, who has already produced four winners from as many runners – three of them at black type level in Simply, Villeins and Too Soon.
Meanwhile, your final chance to purchase an Officiating at the MM is another filly from the Medaglia d’Oro mare Esterhazy (Lot 296) … the dam’s second foal. This weanling has residual written all over her, considering she’s a close relation to Snitzel … not to mention a cracking type!
All three weanlings will be offered under the Waylon J Stud banner.
“We’re excited to see the Officiatings head to the Magic Millions National Sale because we genuinely believe they’ll present very well in a commercial environment,” Davies adds.
Here are the other Officiating weanlings at the sale:
