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19.
Coolmore secures
Choisir
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14/7/2003 |
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Australian
sprinting sensation Choisir has been purchased by Coolmore Stud, and will enter
stud duties in Australia this Spring at a service fee of $30,250.
A $55,000 Inglis Classic yearling purchase by Newcastle trainer Paul Perry,
Choisir is believed to of been targeted by several other major studs, with
speculation that Coolmore beat of several challengers believed to include fellow
Hunter Valley dual-hemisphere racing and breeding operations, Darley and Vinery,
as well as leading UK stud, Cheverly Park.
The purchase price for Choisir has not yet been disclosed by Coolmore or Perry,
but several bloodstock experts have mooted the price-tag to be in the vicinity
of $15 million AUS.
Coolmore Australia General Manager Michael Kirwan said that Coolmore was
thrilled to add Choisir to their stallion roster, which includes his sire,
Danehill Dancer.
"We are absolutely thrilled to have been able to buy Choisir," said
Kirwan.
"He is a wonderful 'type' whose great performances at Royal Ascot and
Newmarket have done more for Australian racing than any horse since Phar Lap.”
“He has absolutely vindicated the whole shuttle-sire concept which you could
say has now turned full circle as Choisir's grandsire Danehill was one of the
pioneering shuttlers and the first to enjoy major success here.”
” We are particularly proud that he should have been produced by one of our
own sires, Danehill Dancer, alongside whom he will be standing at Coolmore this
season.”
Whilst plans have not yet been finalised, it seems likely that Choisir will
reverse-shuttle to Coolmore’s Irish base for Northern Hemisphere duties,
adding further to the horse’s remarkable pioneering achievements for
Australian Racing and Breeding.
It’s believed that Coolmore began the chase for Choisir following his debut UK
win last month in the Group Two Kings Stand stakes at Ascot, with the victory
confirming his potential as a dual-hemisphere stallion prospect.
With speculation on the purchase price of Choisir, consensus amongst several
bloodstock experts today suggested a purchase price of around $15m AUS.
Prominent Hunter Valley Agent Kieran Moore said today that Choisir’s UK
success had trebled his value to between $12m-$15m AUS.
” Before he went to the UK he was a good prospect at around the $5m AUS mark,
but his Group 1 win at Ascot has probably trebled his value,” said Moore.
” He’s now a dual hemisphere stallion prospect, which makes it a little hard
to assess his worth, but when he arrives back in Australia, I’m sure he is
going to be very popular.”
Victorian based agent Denis Roberts said that Choisir was probably priced at
around the $15m AUS mark.
” Much would depend on what price you could stand him in Europe. If he stood
at around 12,000 euro, he would be something like a $15m AUS horse,” said
Roberts.
Choisir’s race record includes Group 1 wins in the Golden Jubilee Stakes
(1200m) at Ascot and the VRC Lightning Handicap (1000m). Among his other career
highlights were wins the Group 2 Emirates (1200m) at Flemington and Group 2 STC
Skyline Stakes (1200m).
He achieved multiple Group 1 placings at two, three and four years including
being runner up at his final start at Newmarket in the July Cup (1200m), second
in the AJC Sires Produce (1400m), third in the STC Golden Slipper (1200m), third
in the AJC Champagne Stakes (1600m), third in the VATC Caulfield Guineas (1600m)
and Third in the MRC Oakleigh Plate (1100m).
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