Restrepo, one of the most brilliant sons of champion sire Art Major, is to stand stud this harness racing season at the Goodtime Lodge stud, of Ian and Judi Slater, at Elliminiyt, near Colac, in Victoria’s western district. He boasts stud credentials second to none.
His service fee will be $2,200 including GST.
Restrepo was a top flight pacer and a most genuine racehorse winning 18 races with 10 placings from 46 starts, earning $507,018.
A champion juvenile at two and three, Restrepo won seven of his first nine starts including the Victoria Sapling Stakes, Shakamaker Classic and a heat of the Victoria Derby.
As a four-year-old he won six races including the 4YO Bonanza, defeating Smolda in a career best 1:52.4 over 1720 metres and the Central Victorian Pacing Championship and was placed in the Chariots of Fire and Vicbred Final.
The following season as a five-year-old Restrepo really came into his own. He earned $303,531 highlighted by successes in the $175,000 Ballarat Cup, the $100,000 Coca Cola Sprint (in 1:54.5) and the $50,000 Legends (in 1:52.8).
He was also placed in the Kilmore and Shepparton Cups and a heat of the Inter Dominion (5th in Final) and qualified for the 2013 Miracle Mile.
Despite being hampered by a knee injury, Restrepo resumed racing at six years, winning the Hamilton Cup from a 30 metre handicap at the expense of eventual Hunter Cup winner Arden Rooney.
Co-trainer Clayton Tonkin said: “Restrepo had absolute sheer speed and a beautiful gait as a youngster. He is a grand looking individual. I’ll be supporting him with some of our own mares this season.”
Blessed with all the attributes necessary for stallion greatness, Restrepo carries an impeccable pedigree made up of champion sires, champion racehorses and champion broodmares.
His sire, Art Major 1:48.8, has been the leading sire of two-year-olds for the last four years and his dam’s sire D M Dilinger 1:49.6 is the sire of sensational USA mare Moving Pictures 1:49.6, and the damsire of Breeders Crown champion Major Crocket.
Art Major’s sons are breeding on and they include Art Official, sire of Let’s Drink On It 1:48.6, winner of a Little Brown Jug heat, and this year’s NSW Tatlow winner Salty Robyn.
Restrepo’s grand-dam Cerebrano (by Lordship) is one of the gems of the Australian trotting stud book. She is the dam of 10 individual winners – three in 2:00 – including a dual Oaks winner and Australian 3YO Filly and Aged Mare of the Year in Innocent Eyes 1:57.6 ($421,875).
Tracing to a noted foundation mare in Topsy, Restrepo’s distaff side boasts the blood of revered sires such as Lordship, Lumber Dream, Out To Win, U Scott and Dillon Hall.
By Peter Wharton