The Art Major horse Renaissance Man, a Group winner as two, three and four years, and a good percentage sire with his first two crops racing in Western Australia, has joined the stallion strength at Yirribee Pacing Stud, Wagga.
With his oldest stock racing as four-year-olds, the former NSW Sires Stakes 2YO champion and SA Derby winner has left 16 winners from 25 foals and almost half his first two crops have raced.
Renaissance Man was represented by a pair of smart three-year-old winners in WA last weekend in the filly Fifty Five Reborn and the gelding Goodonya Mate.
Fifty Five Reborn outsprinted a handy field at Gloucester Park in a career-best 1:57.4 rate over 2130 metres, and has now won four of her 10 starts for almost $50,000 in stakes.
While Goodonya Mate took full advantage of the passing lane to notch his maiden success at Pinjarra, rating 1:57.4 for 1684 metres.
The world champion Warrawee Needy sired his third winner from seven starters in his first 'down under' crop when the two-year-old Warrawee Cruzin led from end to end in the Bathurst Gold Crown Bronze Consolation on Monday (March 30).
The gelding, who was making only his third appearance, was the first leg of a winning double for Yirribee Pacing Stud. They also bred the other Gold Crown Bronze Consolation winner, Eagle Commander.
Another recent Yirribee Pacing Stud bred winner was Dollarbill (by Million Dollar Cam), who posted his 20th win and lifted his stake tally to beyond $100,000 at Redcliffe.
First foals by Lazarus
The first North American bred foals of the NZ champion Lazarus have arrived and are drawing great reviews.
Worldly Beauty 1:49.6 ($1.9 million), a former USA 2YO and 3YO Filly of the Year, dropped a colt foal at Deo Volente Farms in New Jersey.
"This baby is beautifully bred, strong and handsome," Deo's farm manager Fidencio Cervantez said.
Other prominent American breeders are glowing in their reports of the first Lazarus foals.
Ken Weed, of Shadowbrook Farm, said:" Our two foals by Lazarus are stunning. They are smart, correct and very athletic. They travel across the field faster than their mothers can keep up!"
Jess Smith, who bred a Lazarus colt from a close relative of Sanabelle Island, stated: "The colt is well conformed with great bone. His head and eye are sharp with a regal bearing."
By Peter Wharton