SHEER TALENT
Sheer Talent, a son of renowned ‘sire of sires’ Redoute’s Choice from the Eight Carat family, has been retired to Carrington Park Stud for the 2017 Season. A Group 3 Winner of the VRC CS Hayes Stakes, and 3rd in the Group 1 VRC Australian Guineas by 1 ¼ lengths, Sheer Talent’s racing career was cut short due to injury, and only raced 10 times
A 2YO winner at his second start at Seymour, Sheer Talent’s third start was in the Group 3 MRC McNeil Stakes, running 5th behind Lady Of Harrods, Kabayan & Shamexpress over 1200m, beaten just over a length. After resuming in the Autumn in the Listed MRC Manfred Stakes with an encouraging 4th over 1200m at his fourth start, Sheer Talent then won the Group 3 VRC CS Hayes Stakes defeating Philippi and Albrecht. He lined up in the Group 1 VRC Australian Guineas from Barrier 15, and after going forward from the start, sitting outside the leader and being exposed early in the straight, Sheer Talent ran a gallant 3rd behind Ferlax & You’re So Good, beaten only 1 ¼ length while again defeating Philippi and Albrecht. At his final start for his Autumn campaign, Sheer Talent stretched out to 2040m in the Group 2 MVRC Alister Clark Stakes, running 2nd to future Group 1 ATC Australian Derby runner-up Philippi by a nose, showing his versatility from 1200m-2040m.
Bred by Gerry Harvey’s Baramul Stud and sold for $350,000 at the 2011 Magic Millions Yearling Sale to Mark Kavanagh, Sheer Talent descends from the esteemed Eight Carat Family. He is a full and half-brother to Group Winners Kittens and Saint Encosta, as well as being from a half-sister to Group 1 Winners Bonanova, Fraternity & Telesto. Successful stallions from this family include Octagonal, Commands, Kaapstad and Danewin, as well as young stallion prospects Shooting To Win and Deep Field
Race Career
A 2YO winner at his second race start at Seymour, Sheer Talent’s third start was as an early 3YO in the Group 3 MRC McNeil Stakes, running 5th behind Lady Of Harrods, Kabayan & Shamexpress over 1200m, beaten just over a length (Replay: http://www.racing.com/form/2012-09-01/caulfield/race/4/results).
After resuming in the Autumn in the Listed MRC Manfred Stakes with an encouraging 4th over 1200m at his fourth start, Sheer Talent then won the Group 3 VRC CS Hayes Stakes at his 5th start, defeating Philippi and Albrecht (Replay: http://www.racing.com/form/2013-02-16/flemington/race/6/results).
He lined up in the Group 1 VRC Australian Guineas from Barrier 15, and after going forward from the start, sitting outside the leader and hitting the front early in the straight, Sheer Talent ran a gallant 3rd behind Ferlax & You’re So Good, beaten only 1 ¼ length while again defeating Philippi and Albrecht (Replay: http://www.racing.com/form/2013-03-02/flemington/race/7/results).
At his final start of his 3YO season, Sheer Talent stretched out to 2040m in the Group 2 MVRC Alister Clark Stakes, running 2nd to future Group 1 ATC Australian Derby runner-up Philippi by a nose, showing his versatility from 1200m-2040m (Replay: http://www.racing.com/form/2013-03-15/moonee-valley/race/6/results).
Sheer Talent was set for the Group 1 VRC Emirates Stakes at Flemington over 1600m as a spring 4YO, but after a promising return from a spell in early October when 6th in the Listed VRC Paris Lane Stakes beaten just over 1 ½ lengths, Sheer Talent made only 2 more racetrack appearances before being retired due to injury, limiting his career to only 10 starts.
Background & Breeding
Bred by Gerry Harvey’s Baramul Stud, Sheer Talent is by Australia’s 3-time Champion Stallion, Redoute’s Choice. To date, he has sired 123 Stakes Winners, including 27 G1 Winners, with progeny earnings over $114 million. His sons at stud include:
Snitzel, standing for $88,000, sired 31 Stakes Winners, including 6 x G1 Winners
Stratum, standing for $33,000, sired 28 Stakes Winners including 3 x G1 Winners
Not A Single Doubt, standing for $33,000, sired 23 Stakes Winners including 1 x G1 Winner
Sheer Talent’s damline is the jewel in the crown of the Australian & New Zealand bloodstock industries. Being from the mare St. Katherine, he is a full-brother to G3 Winner & twice G1 4th placed Kittens, and half-brother to G3 Winner Saint Encosta. St. Katherine is a half-sister to 3 x G1 Winners, Bonanova, Telesto & Fraternity. Sheer Talent’s 3rd Dam, Great Klaire, is a half-sister to European Champion 3YO & Champion 2YO Filly Habibti, but most importantly is a half-sister to 3-time Broodmare of the Year, Eight Carat. She is the dam of Champions & G1 Winners Octagonal, Kaapstad, Mouawad, Marquise & Diamond Lover; and the grand-dam of Champions & G1 Winners Danewin, Don Eduardo, Tristalove & Shower Of Roses. Stallions from this family include:
Commands (G3 Winner by Danehill), sire of 67 Stakes Winners, deceased
Kaapstad (G1 Winner by Sir Tristram), sire of 46 Stakes Winners, deceased
Danewin (G1 Winner by Danehill), sire of 29 Stakes Winners, pensioned
Octagonal (G1 Winner by Zabeel), sire of 25 Stakes Winners, pensioned
Viscount (G1 Winner by Quest For Fame), sire of 11 Stakes Winners, active
Don Eduardo (G1 Winner by Zabeel), sire of 10 Stakes Winners, active
Viking Ruler (G1 Winner by Danehill), sire of 6 Stakes Winners, active
Shooting To Win (G1 Winner by Northern Meteor), retired in 2015 standing for $38,500
Deep Field (G2 Winner by Northern Meteor), retired in 2015 standing for $22,000
Carrington Park Stud’s Peter Beauman: “We’re thrilled to have Sheer Talent retiring to Carrington Park Stud for the 2015 Season. He is by one of the great stallions of Australia in Redoute’s Choice, who’s sons at stud like Snitzel and Stratum have exceeded everyone’s expectations. He possesses a similar profile to other successful Redoute’s Choice sons Not A Single Doubt and Beneteau (leading first season sire for 2014/15), as stallions that were Listed or Group Winners with a high level placing in a Group 1 or $1,000,000 race. He has a great physique, a prolific Group 1 producing pedigree and untapped Group 1 ability, we can’t wait to see his foals on the ground in 2016.”
LONDON BRIDGE
Built for unrivaled endurance and bred for quality on and off the track, the New York-bred London Bridge was destined to make headlines around the world and now the striking son of Arch (USA) is set to stand his third season “Down Under” at Carrington Park Stud in the picturesque Southern Highlands.
In a major coup for the boutique operation owned by champion horseman Peter Beauman, London Bridge gives breeders the astute opportunity to send their mares to the only son Arch to stand in Australia and importantly one who is virtually a Northern Dancer outcross.
By the hugely influential American super sire in Kris S., responsible for five Breeder’s Cup winners, a Japanese Horse of the Year and Epsom Derby winner among his 63 stakes horses, Arch hails from the incomparable Roberto line, a global phenomenon with notable sire sons in the US, Japan and of course in Australia with Melbourne Cup winner At Talaq.
Arch consistently adds to his impressive stud record with headline horses on both turf and dirt, from Blame, the Breeder’s Cup Classic winner of 2010 and only horse to defeat Zenyatta, the UK super sprinter Les Arc and Canadian Horse of the Year Arravale. It is a legacy that keeps producing, Arch is making his mark as a sire of sire’s thanks to Blame’s early success, as well as a noted broodmare sire with his daughters producing Kentucky Derby winner I’ll Have Another and Coolmore’s champion freshman sire Uncle Mo, who sired the latest Run for the Roses winner in Nyquist.
London Bridge is free from a trait that often defines the Australian broodmare selection – the Danehill/Danzig bloodline. A left-field option for breeders, London Bridge can be matched with mares from several commonly-found influences including Mr Prospector, Seattle Slew, Halo, Mill Reef, Sadler’s Wells, Storm Cat and the most popular Southern Hemisphere lines of Star Kingdom and Sir Tristram.
His maternal heritage reads just as impressively, being a son of the Indian Ridge mare Kindness (GB), a half-sister to the supremely talented three-time G1 winner Magical Fantasy. The blue riband family also features the stunning G1 French sprinter Keen Hunter.
The partnership of a speed-oriented female line, a key criterion of many astute Australian breeders, to the Roberto heritage gave London Bridge a scintillating turn of foot in staying events. In keeping with his family’s international presence, London Bridge was born in New York but raced initially in the UK where he completed a hat trick of wins in four starts.
Later purchased by Paul Fudge of Waratah Thoroughbreds, London Bridge would carry the red emblem to a foundation success in the Group 2 Breeder’s Cup Marathon at Santa Anita over 1 3/4 miles (2800m). In a visually emphatic performance, the then three-year-old colt turned six-wide into the stretch before hitting top gear over the final furlong to defeat his elders by a length under champion hoop Mike Smith.
With the Australian breeding landscape now devoid of potential staying sire lines, the addition of a proven stayer with a pedigree to ultimately compliment any mare brings an overwhelming sense of excitement to the team at Carrington Park.
A conformationally sound stallion with an endearing temperament and pedigree to match, London Bridge is irresistibly priced at just $4,950 (inc. GST) in 2016. Nominated for the popular Breeder Owner Bonus Scheme (BOBS) for 2020, this young stallion’s positives make him a must for your mare’s short list in 2016.