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14.
France Welcomes Testa
Rossa
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02/02/2003 |
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Australian
star Testa Rossa is among a diverse group of new sires who will stand in France,
Germany, and Italy in 2003.
Testa Rossa arrived at the French stud Haras du Petit Tellier last month and has
created considerable interest among European breeders.
His sire Perugino is highly regarded in Europe and as a grandson of Danzig is
certain to attract a quality book of mares for his first northern hemisphere
season. His first Australian foals were born last spring.
He has been highly publicised as a six-time winner of Group One races as a two,
three and four-year-old.
Another top class sire new to Europe is Numerous, who has previously stood in
the US and Argentina.
An 11-year-old son of Mr Prospector, Numerous has been Argentina’s champion
sire with his progeny including the champion filly Miss Terrible, winner of
seven consecutive G1 races.
He has also sired Argentine champion Mr Mat, Canadian champion Numerous Times
and the Canadian classic winner Silver Nithi among 12 Group winners in his first
three crops.
Numerous, who cost $US1.7 million yearling, has a great stallion pedigree as his
dam is a three-quarter sister to Nureyev from the family of Sadler’s Wells.
French Derby winner Anabaa Blue, German champion Samum and the multiple G1
Slickly are all beginning their stud careers this year with their fees set at
8,000 Euros each.
Anabaa Blue, by top shuttle sire Anabaa, is out of a Group-winning half sister
to Arc winner Urban Sea, the dam of Galileo.
Slickly won 10 of his 16 starts including four G1 events, two in Frnace and two
in Italy.
Samum won his first six starts including the G1 German Derby and G1 Grosser
Preis von Baden.
Two other notable newcomers are German 2000 Guineas hero Royal Dragon and
Seattle Slew’s half brother Seattle Dancer, who still holds the record as the
world’s highest-priced yearling.
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