Every so often, breeding presents us with a decision that appears straightforward in hindsight yet feels far less certain in the moment.
The challenge, of course, is recognising those opportunities before the rest of the market does.
Over the past decade, few sire-lines have strengthened their influence on the breed more strongly than that of DUBAWI. His sons are no longer merely carrying a famous name—they are becoming significant stallions in their own right.
NIGHT OF THUNDER. TOO DARN HOT. NEW BAY. GHAIYAATH. In fact, he has nine sons at stud that have sired a Group One Winner themselves! The impact Dubawi & sons enjoyed at Royal Ascot last week was profound.
As breeders, we often talk about identifying the next wave. More often than not, the answer is not by looking for something different, but by recognising the patterns that have already begun to emerge.
That is what makes HENRY LONGFELLOW such an intriguing young stallion.
Like Night Of Thunder and Ghaiyaath, he is bred on the exceptional Dubawi/Galileo cross. More specifically, he is out of Minding, arguably Galileo’s greatest ever daughter having won some seven Group One races before she had even turned four!
Henry’s race record was equally compelling.
An unbeaten juvenile, he emulated his own sire Dubawi when blitzing the Group 1 National Stakes by a widening five lengths. In doing so, he achieved a 2yo Timeform Rating equal or better than that of the last FIVE Golden Slipper & ATC Sires Produce winners; FIREBURN, SHINZO, LADY OF CAMELOT, MARHOONA, GUEST HOUSE, ANAMOE, BROADSIDING, VINROCK & CAMPIONE D’ITALIA…
He joins TOO DARN HOT as the only Group One Winning 2yo by Dubawi to ever stand in Australia.
Importantly, he wasn't simply precocious. As runner-up in the Gr.1 St James’ Palace at Royal Ascot – the melting pot of Europe’s best 3yo sprinter-milers - he was beaten a lip by the subsequent champion 3yo miler but gapped the previous last start winners of the UK & French Guineas.
History tells us that the market does not always immediately embrace emerging sire-lines.
Night Of Thunder began his stallion career at a fee that, with the benefit of hindsight, now seems extraordinary value. Those breeders who recognised the opportunity early were rewarded accordingly. 15% Stakes Winners / Runners in his first Southern Hemisphere crop complimented a staggering 24% from his inaugural crop in the Northern Hemisphere. - 22 of his 91 runners became stakes winners!
No one can know with certainty which young stallion will become the next great success story, but what we can do is evaluate the evidence in front of us.
A good looking Dubawi colt.
An unbeaten, Group One-winning two-year-old.
An elite Timeform-rated performer from one of the most celebrated female families in the Stud Book.(did you see the pedigree of the eye-catching winner of the 2yof-Gr.2 Royal Ascot Queen Mary Stakes last week?! Read about Victorious here.)
A genetic blueprint that continues to shape major races throughout Europe and increasingly throughout Australia and one that, importantly, appears to appreciate mares from the Danehill, Invincible Spirit, Street Cry & Encosta de Lago sire lines.
When viewed through that lens, it becomes easier to understand why so many breeders elected to support Henry Longfellow in 2025. Indeed, amongst Rosemont’s TWENTY-TWO mares due to foal to him this spring, TEN are STAKES/GROUP WINNERS.
The coming seasons will ultimately determine his place in the breeding landscape.
But, if recent history has taught us anything, it is that the industry's most rewarding opportunities are often identified before the results become obvious to everyone else.
The stallions that define an era rarely announce themselves as certainties. More often, they arrive as possibilities.
Like NIGHT OF THUNDER who stood his first year in Victoria at just $16,500, HENRY LONGFELLOW may prove to be one worth paying serious attention to, click here for further information.
Contact the team at Rosemont today to discuss your mares & any potential discounts that may be available.
Ryan McEvoy - General Manager - Bloodstock 0439 802 837
Andy Oliphant – 0435 523 561
