In what is sure to be perceived as a coup not just for Michael Tololi's Stoney Bridge stallion operation but for the New Zealand breeding industry in general, it has been announced that the 2007 Cartier Champion European Sprinter Red Clubs will shuttle to Stoney Bridge from his northern base at Tally-Ho Stud in Ireland for the 2008 breeding season. Red Clubs, a son of major international sire Red Ransom, is just the second Champion European Sprinter to stand in New Zealand with the first being the extremely successful Cambridge Stud stallion Stravinsky while the proven Group 1 sire Anabaa is the only European Sprint Champion to have stood in Australia.
Red Clubs was trained by Barry Hills for Ronald Arculli (part-owner of AJC Derby runner-up Red Ruler) and proved extremely competitive for 3 years on the racetracks of Europe. As a juvenile Red Clubs raced no fewer than 9 times for 3 wins including the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at York over 6 furlongs before notching Group 1 placings to Champion European 2YO George Washington in the Phoenix Stakes at The Curragh and to Amadeus Wolf in the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket. On his return to the track at 3 Red Clubs captured the Group 3 Greenham Stakes at Newbury defeating Marcus Andronicus who was runner-up in the French 2000 Guineas at his next start.
After being tried up to a mile and found wanting Red Clubs reverted to back to sprint distances and was rewarded with another Group 2 success in the Diadem Stakes at Ascot against the older brigade while still a 3yo. Rated 119 by Timeform, Red Clubs showed even better form at 4 in 2007 when he contested almost all the major sprints finishing 4th, just over a length from the winner Soldier's Tale with Takeover Target runner-up in the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot followed by a fine 3rd placing to Sakhee's Secret and Dutch Art in the Group 1 July Cup when he hit the front a fraction too soon before another good effort for 4th in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes.
Red Clubs reward for consistently smart performances in the major Group 1 sprints came at Haydock Park in the Betfred Sprint Cup (6 furlongs) where he came from well off the pace to win comfortably over a quality 14 horse field that included no less than 11 Group winners (5 of them group 1 winners). The Haydock Sprint Cup is a true "stallion-making" contest with the likes of Champion Sires Danehill, Green Desert and in more recent times Invincible Spirit among those who have triumphed in this sprint feature. Red Clubs raced soundly appearing 25 times over 3 seasons winning 6 races from 5 to 7 furlongs and defeating twelve Group One winners including Miss Andretti, Bentley Biscuit, Magnus, Sakhee's Secret, Soldier's Tale and Les Arcs.
Red Clubs was awarded the Cartier Champion Sprinter of Europe title at the conclusion of last season and was rated by Timeform at 125 with them remarking that he is a "…strong, well-made colt-a real powerhouse-with a sharp, fluent action…."
Red Ransom, the sire of Red Clubs, needs no introduction having developed a reputation as one of the most successful shuttle sires in recent times with Group 1 winners in Europe such as Stoney Bridge's own Ekraar, Casual Look (The Oaks), German Champion Ransom O'War, and Dubai World Cup winner Electrocutionist as well as Grade 1 winners in the USA and Australia where Charge Forward (now at Arrowfield) and Red Dazzler have flown the flag not to mention smart current juvenile All American.
Like Charge Forward and Ekraar, Red Clubs boasts a Northern Dancer-free pedigree with, in his case, strong sprinting influences on his maternal side. His dam Two Clubs was a stakeswinner over 6 furlongs at 2 in England and at 3 in France and is a daughter of Champion British 2YO First Trump while Red Clubs granddam Miss Cindy (6 wins) is a full sister to top sprinter and successful sire Petong (10 wins in 19 starts) who himself won the Haydock Park Sprint Cup. This is also the same family which has produced the multiple Champion German Sire Monsun.
"To have secured a current European Champion who is by a stallion held in extremely high regard in Australasia is just fantastic. He ran creditably every time he stepped out over a 3 year span in top company and possessed that powerful acceleration good judges look for in a quality sprinter", stated Stoney Bridge Manager Peter Jenkins. "We have been searching for a brilliant speed sire prospect for some time and Red Clubs ticks all the boxes – performance, pedigree, physique and commercial appeal. We have already earmarked 10 of our best mares (including 5 by Danehill) for his book including the Australian Group 1 winner Wrap Aroud (granddam of Champion 2YO Filly Fashions Afield)", added Jenkins.
"Fortunately our Northern Hemisphere partners Tony and Roger O'Callaghan, together with bloodstock agents Will Barrons and Richard Venn who brokered the deal, have been extremely accommodating in setting very favourable lease terms for Red Clubs that allow us to maximise his first book at Stoney Bridge by setting a fee of $15,000 + gst", according to Peter Jenkins.
Red Clubs will stand at Stoney Bridge Waikato's property at Matamata under the care of studmaster Tony Mudgway. He is due to be released from quarantine in Mid-August.
- Stoney Bridge
