Highview Stud and the Hong Kong Breeders’ Club have announced Bullbars will stand at the leading NZ property this spring.  Melbourne agent Sheamus Mills Bloodstock purchased the four year-old from Darley last month.

“We are delighted to obtain a horse with his credentials,” Highview Stud’s managing director Brent Gillovic said.  “He is an outstanding type and is the perfect type of individual to suit New Zealand broodmares.”

Bullbars (4h Elusive Quality – Accessories by Singspiel) was trained by Peter Snowden to win at Caulfield in his only two-year-old start.  As a spring three-year-old, he was a narrowly beaten third in the Listed MVRC Essendon Nissan Stakes then finished fourth in the Listed VRC Henry Bucks Stakes and third in the Group 2 MVRC Bill Stutt Stakes.

He returned in February last year and was runner-up in the Listed MRC Manfred Stakes beating Group 1 winner Star Witness home and then backed up 10 days later for a barnstorming last-to-first win in the Group 3 VRC Colin Hayes Stakes.

In a most impressive victory down the Flemington straight, the Darley colt added his name to the C S Hayes Stakes roll-call that includes the likes of Zabeel, Starcraft, Mossman and Dash For Cash.

On the strength of that win, Bullbars started favourite for the Group 1 VRC Australian Guineas only to be defeated by the crack filly Shamrocker who went on to claim the Group 1 AJC Derby.

The Australian Guineas runner-up has been a great source of successful stallions with O’Reilly, Starcraft, Mossman and Darci Brahma all finding one better on the day as did current Australian leading first-season sire Casino Prince.

Bullbars is the first foal from imported mare Accessories (GB) who is also the dam of Group 1 Caulfield Guineas, AJC Sires’ Produce Stakes and AJC Champagne Stakes hero Helmet as well as this season’s Listed Camberra Black Opal winning colt Epaulette.

The family is one of Sheikh Mohammed’s finest and is full of black print performers throughout Europe.  “It is an unbelievable pedigree,” Gillovic declared.  “Accessories could well be considered one of the most valuable broodmares in Australasia.

“Personally, I am of the opinion sprinters – milers make the best stallions.  His progeny are going to be very appealing to the Australian and Asian markets.”

Bullbars is the latest investment in the Australasian bloodstock industry by the Hong Kong Breeders’ Club.  It also has interests in other stallions such as Starcraft, Snitzel, Danroad, Align, Towkay and Lucky Owners.

Bullbars will stand at a first-season fee of $7,500 plus gst alongside Align ($5,000), Danroad ($5,000) and Sufficient ($4,000).