Sun Stud excited about the prospects of freshman sire Palentino at Premier
First yearlings by dual Group 1-winning stallion set to make big impact at Oaklands Junction
All eyes will be on Flemington when an eagerly anticipated renewal of the Australian Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) takes place tomorrow, just one day before the first yearlings by Palentino (Teofilo), winner of the stallion-making race in 2016, go through the ring at Oaklands Junction as the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale gets underway in Melbourne.
Trained by Darren Weir, Palentino held off fellow freshman sire Tarzino (Tavistock), as well as eight other individual Group 1 winners, to win the autumn feature, prompting Sun Stud to secure a major share in the colt to stand at their farm at the end of his career.
As a four-year-old, the son of Teofilo (Galileo) went on to beat Black Heart Bart (Blackfriars) at the peak of his powers in the Makybe Diva Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m), emulating the deeds of champion sire Zabeel (Sir Tristam), who also completed the double in 1990.
Palentino was retired following his 2017 autumn campaign, which included victory in the Blamey Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m) and fourth-place finishes in the Australia Stakes (Gr 2 1200m) and Doncaster Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m).
In three seasons at stud, the Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale graduate has received tremendous support by the breeding industry, covering over 400 mares for a fee of $17,600 (inc GST).
Sun Stud have been very impressed by their freshman sire’s progeny and that opinion has been echoed by trainers and bloodstock agents during the first inspections at Oaklands.
“We’re very happy with the progeny,” Phillip Marshall of Sun Stud told ANZ Bloodstock News.
“He seems to be really stamping his stock. Not only are most of them flashy chestnuts with plenty of white on them, but he’s also got plenty of size, scope and bone into them that he has himself.
“He’s a very strong horse and we’re seeing that in his progeny. The other thing we’re seeing is that Palentino was a very good work horse. He really enjoyed his work as a racehorse and we’ve found during the prep with the Palentinos that they’re also really happy to keep working.
“The more work they can do the better and that’s a great attribute to have going on into their racing careers.
“Overall, the fact he’s stamping them and leaving what I call a commercial type, it’s very pleasing to see.”
Results from the sales season so far have shown buyers are not shying away from the new, unproven sires and early feedback has indicated that won’t change at Premier with Palentino.
“The feedback has been very good,” Marshall continued.
“It’s still early days, we’re only two and a half days into parading, but overall the trainers and bloodstock agents have been really impressed with what they see.
“They’re echoing my sentiment in that he’s leaving a type – that you can tell which ones are the Palentinos – because he’s really stamping them to himself.”
There are 25 yearlings by Palentino catalogued at Premier, the most of any first season sire. Sun Stud will offer five lots by their resident, but there are two colts the operation think have particularly caught the attention of buyers during early inspections.
Lot 153 https://inglis.com.au/sales/info/2020+Melbourne+Premier+Yearling+Sale/catalogue/153 is out of the winning mare Evasive (One Cool Cat), who herself is a half-sister to Rosehill Guineas (Gr 1, 2000m) winner Zabrasive (Zabeel) and dual stakes placegetter Anzali (Zabeel).
The other colt is out of the unraced mare Tantalized (Octagonal) and he is a half-brother to VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) runner-up Lazumba (Sebring).
Tantalized is out of the seven-time stakes-winner, and three-time Group 1 runner-up, Excited Angel (Don’t Say Halo), who has also produced Ballarat Cup (Listed, 2000m) winner Aquiver (Danehill) as well as Group 3 runner-up Provokes (Octagonal). He is catalogued as Lot 480 https://inglis.com.au/sales/info/2020+Melbourne+Premier+Yearling+Sale/catalogue/480.
“They’re wonderful moving horses and very athletic but they’ve got plenty of strength and substance about them. They’re the two buyers are most impressed with,” Marshall said.
Sun Stud will present an 18-strong draft featuring yearlings by leading sires Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), Fastnet Rock (Danehill) and Not A Single Doubt (Redoute’s Choice).
“We’ve got a really strong draft in terms of quality and quantity,” Marshall said. “I think we’ve got something for all shapes and forms of buyers.
“We’ve got a Snitzel filly (Lot 489 https://inglis.com.au/sales/info/2020+Melbourne+Premier+Yearling+Sale/index/489) who is a very nice, athletic and good moving filly and is very easy on the eye, and a lovely Fastnet Rock filly (Lot 121https://inglis.com.au/sales/info/2020+Melbourne+Premier+Yearling+Sale/index/121).
“Those two really catch the eye but I could talk about all of them. It’s a wonderful draft to have and we’re very pleased with how they’ve come along and so far inspections have been very strong,” Marshall added.
The Inglis Premier Yearling Sale will kick off at 10am local time on Sunday.