By Darren Cartwright
There’s no doubting the quality of the state’s breeding stocks, with three of the top five first-season sires based in Queensland, including The Mission, with an impeccable 50 per cent strike rate.
According to Arion Pedigrees' first-season sire statistcs, The Mission had 20 starters for 10 individual winners and 14 victories in total - the best strike of any sire in the top 50 with seven or more runners.
Standing at Aquis Farm in the Scenic Rim, the son of champion sprinter Choisir was third overall for 2021/22, behind Russian Revolution (47 runners, 15 wins, 18 total) and Hellbent (41, 11, 12).
Aquis Farm also held down fifth place with Invader (26, 8,9), while between the pair was Heroic Valour (30,8, 11) which stands at Raheen Stud in the Southern Downs, giving Queensland-based sires three of the top five places.
Their success is in addition to Queensland-based sires Better Than Ready, standing at Lyndhurst Stud Farm at Warwick, and Spirit Of Boom, standing at Eureka Stud at Cambooya, finishing first and second respectively as, Australia's leading two-year-old sires in 2021/22.
Better Than Ready had 70 runners for 25 individual winners and 36 collectively, while Spirit Of Boom had 23 individual winners from 53 starters and 35 victories in total.
The Mission (pictured) was one of five Aquis Farm sires in the top 20 and the most unexpected of results, according to the stud’s Director of Sales Jonathan Davies.
Aquis Farm’s other top-ranked sires were eight-placed Spieth, who has since died, Jukebox (11th) and Kobyashi (20th).
“The Mission has led the way by the number of winners and with an incredible strike rate,” Davies said.
“He also had horses finishing fourth (Perfect Mission) and fifth (Mishani Warfare) in the Magic Millions, which was a great thrill.
“He’s doing great things, and horses that are doing less of a job seem to have more hype.
“He’s surprised a lot of people. Choisir was not known as a sire of two-year-olds…the breed, as a rule, gets better with age.
“So, for The Mission to do what he is doing now augurs well for the future.”
Despite his success, Aquis Farm is slashing the service fee for The Mission from $10,000 to $5,000 in August.
“To celebrate him being the best first-season stallion in Queensland, we are offering half-price service, plus GST, for all breeders,” Davies said.
The Mission's highest first-season stakes earner Mishani Warfare races to victory at Eagle Farm in October.
Raheen Stud principal Basil Nolan said the success of Queensland sires was a boon for the industry.
Nolan, who is also president of the Thoroughbred Breeders' Queensland Association, said there were only a few dozen sires that went to stud that season and the results underline the state’s quality breeding stocks.
“It’s an excellent result and it’s a real feather in our cap,” Nolan said.
“It shows the strength of the Queensland breeding industry.”
As for Heroic Valour being the fourth in the country, he said they had expectations of a strong first season for the son of Fastnet Rock who won his first four starts in New Zealand including the Group 1 Sistema Diamond.
“We had expectations of him because he was a group one winner as a two-year-old and he throws very nice stock and obviously we hope that they train on and are successful as three and four-year-olds and better.
“We're very happy with him.”
Aquis Farm’s first-season sire success follows the recent acquisition of Group-winning champions Jonker and Glenfiddich standing at their stud.
Jonker, who won the Group 1 Manikato Stakes in October at his third last appearance, and Glenfiddich, winner of the Group 2 Stutt Stakes at his penultimate start in September 2020, commence stud duties this season.
Leading Australia 1st Season Sires by Winners for 2021-22 Season
Starters / Indvidual Winners
1. Russian Revolution (AUS) (Snitzel - Ballet d'Amour) 47 / 15
2. Hellbent (AUS) (I Am Invincible – Volkaspray) 41 / 11
3. The Mission (AUS) (Choisir - My Amelia) 20 / 10
4. Heroic Valour (AUS) (Fastnet Rock – Myrrh) 30 / 8
5. Invader (AUS) (Snitzel - Flame of Sydney) 26 / 8
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8. Spieth (NZ) (Thorn Park - Stella Livia) 26 / 6
11. Jukebox (AUS) (Snitzel – Jestatune) 12 / 4
20. Kobayashi (AUS) (I Am Invincible - Woodstock Hussey) 17 / 2
*Source: Arion Pedigrees