3 minute read
Victorian-based farm welcome Grade 1 winners on roster.
American Grade 1 winners Omaha Beach (War Front) and Vino Rosso (Curlin) will shuttle to Spendthrift Australia where they will stand for fees of $22,000 (inc GST) and $13,750 (inc GST) respectively.
Trained by Richard Mandella, Omaha Beach retired the winner of five of his ten starts, including three at Grade 1 level which saw him earn US$1,651,800.
The son of War Front (Danzig) opened his account at Santa Anita in February 2019, before going on to land the Rebel Stakes (Gr 2, 8.5f) at Oaklawn Park. His first win at the highest level came in the Arkansas Derby (Gr 1, 9f), a performance he then backed up in the Sprint Championship Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) back at Santa Anita.
After finishing second in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (Gr 1, 8f), Omaha Beach landed the Malibu Stakes (Gr 1, 7f) last December - which proved to be his final start.
Omaha Beach is out of winning Seeking The Gold (Mr. Prospector) mare Charming, making him a half-sister to dual Grade 1 winner Take Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway), while he is also a half-brother to Group 1 placed Courage Under Fire.
Charming herself is out of multiple Grade 1 scorer Take Charge Lady (Dehere) - who is also the dam of fellow Grade 1 winners Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song) and Take Charge Indy (A.P. Indy).
Omaha Beach stood his first season at stud at Spendthirft's Kentucky base for a fee of US$45,000 and he will be joined in Australia by barnmate Vino Rosso - who is currently covering mares in America at a fee of US$30,000.
The son of Curlin (Smart Strike) - who was trained throughout his career by Todd Pletcher - retired the winner of six of his 15 starts, including two at the highest level and US$4,803,125 in career prize-money.
After winning both his starts as a juvenile, Vino Rosso took out the Wood Memorial Stakes (Gr 2, 9f) as a three-year-old.
However it was the next season he showed his dominance over the middle distance races in America, taking out the Santa Anita Gold Cup (Gr 1,10f), before landing the Breeders' Cup Classic (Gr 1, 10f) on his final start last November.
Purchased for US$410,000 at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Vino Rosso is out of winning mare Mythical Bride (Street Cry).
Mythical Bride herself is out of Listed-winning mare Flaming Heart (Touch Gold) and she is also the dam of Grade 2 scorer Commissioner (A.P. Indy) and Grade 3 winner Laugh Track (Distorted Humor).
"It's a big vote of confidence in the Victorian breeding industry for Mr Hughes to shuttle two of the most popular and valuable stud prospects in North America," said Garry Cuddy, general manager of Spendthrift Australia.
"Omaha Beach and Vino Rosso represent the best of the best, as multiple Grade 1 winners with rich pedigrees, and like every stallion on our roster, they are by champion sires.
"Omaha Beach and Vino Rosso will be afforded every opportunity at stud when supported by quality mares from the Spendthrift Australia broodmare band," said Cuddy. "We will be active at the sales over the coming months to purchase mares that specifically complement their profiles."
Meanwhile, Overshare (I Am Invincible), whose first foals hit the ground this year, will stand his third season at Spendthrift Australia for an unchanged fee of $11,000 (inc GST), while Swear (Redoute's Choice) and Gold Standard (Sebring) will both stand for unchanged fees of $5,500 (inc GST) in 2020.