Eagle soars into Colonial Stallion Scheme

Thursday 14^th May 2015 – Four time Gr.1 winner Fly Like An Eagle will stand at Yirribee Stud next season in what has been described as a coup for harness racing breeders in New South Wales.

The son of Mach Three defeated the best pacers of his time including Christen Me, Smolda, Sushi Sushi, Caribbean Blaster and Sir Lincoln and still holds the New Zealand record as the fastest two year old over 1700 metres with a mile rate 0f 1:55.9.

HRNSW CEO John Dumesny praised Yirribee Stud on securing the $756,178 earner and believes it is an indication of the confidence in the NSW breeding industry.

“Fly Like An Eagle is all quality as his record demonstrates and the Yirribee team must be congratulated for securing him from the New Zealand owners over other Australian states,” Dumesny said.

“Yirribee’s Rod Woodhouse has been extremely proactive which will benefit the NSW breeding industry with this acquisition.”

Standing for $2750, Fly Like An Eagle will qualify for the Colonial Bred Stallion Scheme which sees broodmare owners receive $500 payable on a live foal, while the progeny of the NZ Derby winner will be eligible for the NSW Breeders Challenge and Breeders Challenge Blue Series.

“The introduction last season of the Colonial Bred Stallion Scheme judging by the resultant covers was an instant success.

“There are 190 mares in foal to eligible stallions this season which represents around fifteen percent of the mares served in NSW.”

Yirribee boss Rod Woodhouse is excited by the announcement that Fly Like An Eagle will join the stallion roster at his well known Riverina stud.

“Fly Like An Eagle was an exciting racehorse and his prospects as a stallion are just as exciting, Yirribee Stud is looking forward to the upcoming breeding season,” Woodhouse said.

“He is from the famous Black Watch family, has been well priced and being a part of the Colonial Bred Stallion Scheme will make him very attractive to broodmare owners.”

Dumesny believes the board of HRNSW demonstrated its support of the local breeding industry through a number of initiatives last year and these are already producing dividends.

“The board recognised it was important to nurture Gr.1 winning colonial bred stallions in the same way the thoroughbred industry had,” Dumesny stated.

“The decision by the board of HRNSW to fund the rebate attracted the quality first season stallion Caribbean Blaster last year and increased the numbers of mares over previous seasons to other eligible stallions.”

“Board members Rex Horne, Alex Smith and Rod Smith took the opportunity to inspect Fly Like An Eagle at Yirribee Stud on Tuesday and were all impressed by his athletic appearance which I am sure will attract broodmare owners.”

Fly Like An Eagle ($150,000 Young Guns Final)