Charge Forward transfers to Murrulla Stud

Charge Forward will relocate from Arrowfield Stud in a deal with his breeders and Murrulla Stud.

Bred by the late Phillip Esplin, Charge Forward sold for $100,000 to clients of trainer John O’Shea at the 2003 Gold Coast Magic Millions yearling sale.  He won the LR Breeders’ Plate and G2 Todman Stakes before finishing second in Dance Hero’s G1 Golden Slipper.

Resuming at three, he defeated Fastnet Rock first-up in the G2 San Domenico Stakes and bowed out the following autumn with a Group 1 victory in The Galaxy at Randwick.

The Esplin family retained a share in Charge Forward when he retired to Arrowfield.  “We’ve always loved him since the day John bought him at Magic Millions,” Hamish Esplin said.   “He can produce colts, fillies and his daughters look to be very valuable broodmares of the future.”

Murrulla Stud owners Tim and Celie Nolan jumped at the chance to stand the Group 1 winning stallion at their Wingen nursery north of Scone.  “We stand Office Bearer on behalf of the Esplins,” Tim explained.  “Charge Forward is all about precocious speed and you can pretty much send any mare to him and it will work.

“We will stand him at $8,000 which is a great price given how well his sales results have been this year.  He’s had 11 yearlings sell at Magic Millions and Inglis Classic and they have averaged $85,000 which is a great return for breeders.”

Charge Forward is the third Australian-bred stallion to leave the Arrowfield roster in the last twelve months.  All American was sold to WA just before his champion filly Yankee Rose emerged to win the G1 Sydney Sires’ Produce Stakes.

Manhattan Rain moved to Victoria last month and his filly She Will Reign landed the G1 Golden Slipper on Saturday.  She is out of a mare by Charge Forward.

Trainer Gary Portelli mentioned the Charge Forward factor at Rosehill.  “She Will Reign has that Charge Forward look about her.  Big hindquarter, good girth and lovely length.  She’s got all that and it’s typical of what you see in a horse with speed.”

Charge Forward (Red Ransom) has built up a 64% winners-to-runners strike-rate since claiming the Australian First Season title in 2008-09.  He has sired 45 stakes performers led by Melbourne Group 1 winners Headway (Coolmore Stud Stakes) and Response (Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes).

CHARGE FORWARD