Iconic Southern nursery White Robe Lodge has kept things simple for breeders this season with their stallion roster of three – Alflaila, Ancient Spirit and Ghibellines – all to stand at $7,000+GST.
New addition Alflaila has been positively-received with the well-related multiple Group Two winner providing breeders with access to the highly sought-after Dark Angel sire-line.
“It’s great timing with Dark Angel being the Champion Sire of Britain and Ireland last year and with his sire-son Harry Angel being one of the most exciting stallions across the Tasman,” White Robe Lodge’s Jack Stewart said.
“We have had a very good initial response to breeding rights and also early bookings.”
The Taieri Plains stud farm has been buoyed by the early feedback on the stock of Ancient Spirit, with the eldest by the dual Group Two winning son of Invincible Spirit just two-years-old.
“He is going great,” Stewart said. “He’s had a few trial winners and we have had great reports from trainers from the ones that are in work, so it’s a case of so far so good.”
Proven sire Ghibellines completes the roster, best represented by Group One winner Smokin’ Romans, who has added the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) and last week’s Listed Warrnambool Cup (2350m) to his tally this season, with his career earnings now A$2,329,265.
Fellow Ghibellines gelding Palmetto has enjoyed another strong season in Australia for John Sargent, with the recent Listed Canberra Cup (2000m) winner now up to A$1,423,429 in career earnings.
“He’s had two stakes winner across the ditch, he’s had a great season in New Zealand with horses like Lofty’s gift and he’s sitting third on the Premiership for winners,” Stewart said. “He’s just doing a good solid job for us. He leaves winners every week either side of the Tasman and he stands at such great value.”