Arrowfield’s freshman sire All American will shuttle to Darby Dan Farm in Kentucky for the 2011 northern hemisphere season.  He will be the first Australian stallion ever to shuttle to the United States.

All American (Red Ransom – Milva by Strawberry Road) was a Group 1 winner of the VRC Emirates Stakes.  He posted the fastest time ever recorded by an entire for 1600m at Flemington when he defeated six Group 1 winners to win the 2009 Emirates in 1.33.98s.

All American won four races from 1000m to 1600m and he was also G1 placed in the MRC Blue Diamond Stakes and VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes.

By leading international sire, and now sire of sires Red Ransom, All American is from a half-sister to leading young USA stallion Rock Hard Ten (Kris S.).  Both All American and Rock Hard Ten are paternal grandsons of Roberto.

All American’s half-sister More Strawberries was third in the G1 STC Golden Slipper Stakes earlier this year and their second dam is Tersa (Mr. Prospector) was the champion French 2YO filly of her generation.

Darby Dan Farm owner John Phillips visited Arrowfield Stud earlier this week to inspect All American and conclude the shuttle agreement.   “All American is a Group 1 winner with high class two-year-old performance, a turn of foot, and a masculine balance with ample length of leg,” Phillips said.  “The sky is the limit for All American and Darby Dan is excited to participate in his stud career and we intend to make him a global success.”

All American stands his first southern hemisphere season in 2010 at Arrowfield, at a fee of $16,500 (inc. gst).   His 2011 US fee will be announced by Darby Dan shortly.

The fact American breeders have lost some promising Roberto-line sire candidates like Barbaro (Dynaformer) and Darby Dan’s own Coshocton (Silver Hawk) makes All American especially attractive.

John Messara was delighted when John Phillips approached Arrowfield about shuttling All American.  “Darby Dan bred, raced and stood his paternal grandsire Roberto,” Messara explained.  “John has a deep understanding of this great outcross sireline and shares our faith in All American’s ability to transmit its best qualities.

“Everything about All American, including his name, makes him the perfect pioneer of the reverse shuttle to the United States.”

Darby Dan Farm was established in 1956 in the heart of Kentucky’s famous Bluegrass and is responsible for six Kentucky Derby winners, two Breeders’ Cup winners and eight Champions, among them English Derby winner and major sire Roberto.

The 1961 importation of undefeated European Champion Ribot established Darby Dan as an international player.  Subsequent acquisition Sea-Bird enhanced the Farm’s reputation for identifying stallions capable of producing superior racehorses.

Roberto, foaled in 1969, helped to distinguish Darby Dan as the only farm in history to produce the winners of the English Derby, Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic.  As a sire of sires Roberto has had a lasting worldwide impact on the entire breed.

For Darby Dan, Roberto sired such horses as multiple GI winner and leading sire in Japan, Brian’s Time, as well as champion Sunshine Forever and GI winners Plenty of Grace and Script Ohio.  Roberto’s sons Silver Hawk and Kris S. have sired Darby Dan GI stars Memories of Silver, Wonder Again, Japanese 2YO champion Grass Wonder and Breeders’ Cup Turf champion Soaring Softly.