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South Island breeders will welcome the addition of Echoes Of Heaven to their stallion ranks this coming breeding season.
The brother to Manhattan Rain and half-brother to the remarkable Redoute's Choice will join Group One winner Jon Snow at Clearview Park near Timaru.
Previously standing at Newmarket Stud, a deal was brokered with Aaron Tapper to stand the stallion down South, and the Clearview Park principal is looking forward to the challenge.
“I went to have a look at the stallion when I was up at Karaka for the yearling sales earlier this year,” Tapper said.
“We started discussing standing him at the farm from then and agreed to a deal about a month ago.
“His pedigree is fantastic and he is leaving good horses, he is just not getting enough mares.”
Echoes Of Heaven’s main flagbearer has been Countofmontecristo, a multiple stakes winner in Singapore with earnings of near A$2.2 million, while he has some promising younger stock coming through.
“We have got two good fillies down in the South Island and Maximus Prime has gone on to race well in Melbourne,” Tapper said
“There is potential there and there is a market in the South Island with breeders knowing Amberecho and Our Echo, and obviously Maximus Prime as well.”
Tapper said Echoes Of Heaven will also give South Island breeders another option to consider when deciding their spring matings.
“There are not that many (stallions) down here,” he said.
“Travel costs of getting to the North Island is sometimes a bit too much, and the agistment and vet bills are two or three times higher than what it is down in the South Island.”
Echoes Of Heaven, who has sired 49 winners from 87 starters, will stand for a fee of $4,500+GST.
Meanwhile, Tapper is looking forward to seeing the first juveniles of resident stallion Jon Snow step out in the new season.
The Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) winner will stand his fourth season at stud, with his first progeny set to hit the track in the coming months.
“We are just excited that he has got two-year-olds coming. We have broken in a few and they are the easiest breakers we have had,” Tapper said.
“Reports from people who have bought yearlings from me in New Plymouth, Rudy Leifting in Pukekohe, and Wexford Stables have been great.
“Jon Snow’s temperament is fantastic and he seems to be passing that on to his progeny.
“We have got mares that have stayed on the property from last year that will be going to him and there are inquiries coming from outside mares.”
