Former Victorian Horse of the Year Jilliby Kung Fu, who will stand his first commercial season at Marg Lee’s Jilliby Lodge, Terang following two seasons as a private sire, is without question one of the best performed, best-bred colonial stallions to become available to breeders.
His first crop, now weanlings, show all the quality of their sire and give every impression of being likely to develop early speed.
“They are nice types with a great temperament and come to hand quickly,” Marg Lee said.
Jilliby Kung Fu had only 34 starts as a two, three and four-year-old, winning 16 times and being 12 times placed and running up a stake score of $529,710 – an average of $15,580 per start.
But for his injury in a paddock accident as a five-year-old, there would have been no doubt that Jilliby Kung Fu would have been one of the stars of Grand Circuit racing.
Jilliby Kung Fu, who commenced his career as a two-year-old in the 2015/16 season, won five races that term including the Group 2 $50,000 APG Consolation Final in a 1:55.6 rate and a heat and semi-final of the Vicbred Super Series.
As a three-year-old he captured the Group 1 $120,000 Vicbred Final in 1:55 and was beaten a head by Our Little General when runner-up in the $190,000 Breeders Crown Final and second in a Victoria Derby heat.
Jilliby Kung Fu was the top stake earning four-year-old of 2018 racing against a vintage crop. Among his five successes at four were the $200,000 Chariots Of Fire, defeating Let It Ride and Atomic Red in a race equalling record 1:48.8, the $100,000 Victorian 4YO Bonanza after sitting parked throughout in 1:51.9 and a semi-final of the Vicbred Super Series.
“Horses don’t do what he did in the Bonanza. He’s the best horse we’ve ever had,” Lee stated.
He also finished a head second in 1:46.9 to My Field Marshal in the fastest ever Miracle Mile and second to Wrapper’s Delight in the $125,000 Vicbred Final and finished up with a seasonal tally of $332,790.
A brilliant sprinter and a genuine racehorse, Jilliby Kung Fu met and defeated the best horses of his era including Lazarus, Lennytheshark, Tiger Tara, Soho Tribeca and Our Uncle Sam.
A commanding bay horse, foaled in 2013, Jilliby Kung Fu is the fastest son of former champion pacer Four Starzzz Shark (1:47.8) to do stud duty in this country. Four Starzzz Shark hit the siring headlines when he left the mighty Lennytheshark (1:49.2), the Horse of the Year and Grand Circuit champion, and the millionairess Frith.
On his dam’s side Jilliby Kung Fu comes from a family which has made a real impact on the Australian breeding scene. His dam Slip Slop Slap has left eight winners from nine foals of racing age including six in 2:00 or better and progeny earnings of $840,000.
By Perfect Art, Slip Slop Slap is a half-sister to the Victoria Gold Chalice winner Lombo Mondoluce 2:00.4 ($145,675), being out of the top racemare and Oaks winner Slaps 2:00.2 ($142,344), by Tuapeka Knight from the American-bred mare Tabella Ace, the dam of three $100,000 earners including Riwaka Rocket (1:56).
This is the family of the champion racemare Jadah Rose (1:49.6), the prolific cups winner Guaranteed and current top Victorian three-year-old Pacifico Dream.
His introductory service fee is $2,200 including GST.