NEWS (June 2009)

19/6/2009

WILLOWBEND OPEN DAY & STALLION PARADE – Sunday 12 July, 2009

Willowbend Stud will conduct its annual Stallion Parade and Open day on Sunday 12 July. 2009.

Stallions to be paraded will include the latest addition to the Willowbend Stallion ranks in stakeswinning American sprinter Southwestern Heat.

Southwestern Heat joins Clang, Natural Destiny, Nothing To Lose, Rock of Cashel and Helter Skelter on the 2009 Willowbend stallion roster.

The day commences from 10am with morning tea, followed by a stallion parade at 11:30am.

To RSVP for the event please contact David Lucas 0438 114134 or Ben Lucas 0438 614134 or email info@willowbend.com.au.

9/6/09

CLANG ENJOYING TOP SEASON

The well deserved Stradbroke Handicap victory by Black Piranha has capped off a brilliant season for Queensland based stallion Clang.

Clang has earned a reputation of being able to upgrade his mares to produce high quality racehorses.

This reputation was initially earned by the deeds of Clang’s other two Group 1 victors in Calaway Gal (Golden Slipper Stakes) and Clangalang (AJC Derby & Epsom Hcp).

Trainer Con Karakatsanis will now target the Group 1 Cox Plate with Black Piranha in the Spring.

Black Piranha is out of the Distinctly North mare Jazztrack, who is due to visit Clang again this Spring in the hope of producing a full relation to the Stradbroke victor.

Clang now sits just outside the top 20 Australian Sires by earnings for 2008/2009, with his progeny amassing over $3.077m this season.

Other top performers for Clang this season have included black type earners Friendly Embrace, Hey Elvis, La Bella Luisa and Roses For Claire.

Clang ($5,500 service fee for 2009) now sits in second place in the Queensland Sires by Earnings title for 2008/2009, trailing Show A Heart ($33,000 service fee for 2009) by just $157,000.

Such a record makes Clang an ideal mate for owner/breeders looking to produce tough, versatile racehorses at a value for money service fee.

 
1/06/09 
ENCOSTA DE LAGO WEANLING SECURED BY LUCAS

A well built son of Encosta De Lago has been secured by Willowbend Stud principal David Lucas during the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale at the Gold Coast

Offered by Coolmore Stud as agent, the colt was knocked down to Lucas for $150,000.  

Lucas was acting on behalf of overseas interests, buying under the Lucas Bloodstock banner.

“I rated him as one of the top three weanlings in the sale,” said Lucas.

“My client has two options with the colt; we can put him back through as a yearling in January or retain him to race.

“Either way we are in a very good position with this colt.”

Lucas was also underbidder on a $200,000 Stravinsky filly from the stakes winning mare Irongail during the opening session of the sale.

The Encosta De Lago colt is out of the Galileo mare Ocean Pearl who boasts a black type packedEuropean family.

The colt’s third dam is Irish One Thousand Guineas winner Arctique Royale, herself the dam of nine winners, four of which have won at Group or Listed level.