Redoute to cover northern hemisphere time
After two years of shuttling at the Aga Khan’s Haras de Bonneval, where he covered strong books of mares from all around Europe and as far away as the USA and Canada, Arrowfield Stud’s three-time Champion Sire Redoute’s Choice (Aus) will serve a limited number of mares to northern hemisphere time from his home base in New South Wales.
The 18-year-old had a particularly buoyant season in 2013/14, conquering his third Champion Sire title and also being responsible for the runner-up, Snitzel (Aus). Four-time Group 1-winning sprinter Lankan Rupee (Aus), the highest-rated racehorse in Australia last term, has been his leading flag-bearer of late. On the back of such achievements, yearlings by Redoute’s Choice proved extremely popular at the recent Magic Millions Gold Coast sale, and the sire’s popularity appeared to have traveled way beyond Australasia, with four of them being knocked down to American investors.
Kentucky agent John Moynihan teamed up with James Harron to secure a A$720,000 colt out of Kidman (Aus), California-based Jon Kelly joined Gai Waterhouse to purchase a filly for A$450,000 and Lee Freedman to sign for another at $500,000, and B. Wayne Hughes’ Spendthrift Farm bought a colt for A$200,000. More international recognition is expected later this year, when the first Redoute’s Choice yearlings conceived at Haras de Bonneval come on the market.
The foreign appetite for the progeny of their star stallion has prompted Arrowfield Stud to make a limited number of nominations available for the northern hemisphere breeding season, starting Feb. 14. Arrowfield’s Chairman John Messara explained, “We have already accepted a small number of northern time bookings to Redoute’s Choice from existing clients, so we’re pleased to extend that to other breeders interested in using him. The support of the Aga Khan, among other powerful European and US owners and breeders, and the outstanding quality of his two French books give Redoute’s Choice a solid platform for enduring global recognition.”