Elzaam shuttles to Woodside Park Stud

Woodside Park Stud has announced Redoute’s Choice stallion Elzaam will shuttle to Victoria this year.

Elzaam (Aus) was raced by Sheikh Hamdan and is currently covering his first northern hemisphere season at Ballyhane Stud in Ireland.  “He was an outstanding two and three year-old,” Woodside Park manager Murray Tillett said.  “He’s a stunning looking horse and possessed a tremendous amount of ability.”

Elzaam (5h Redoute’s Choice – Mambo In Freeport by Kingmambo) was conceived to northern hemisphere time at Arrowfield Stud in Australia in 2007 and was purchased by Sheikh Hamdan for 280,000 euros at the 2009 Arqana August yearling sale.

Bred by Kia Ora Stud, he is from a winning half-sister to G1 Del Mar Debutante Stakes winner Point Ashley (Point Given) and G2 Hollywood Landaluce Stakes winner Raw Gold (Rahy).

Elzaam made an impressive winning debut at York in May of his juvenile year.  He was narrowly denied a G2 in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and followed up with stakes placings in both the July Stakes and Horris Hill Stakes.

Returning at three, he developed into a high-class sprinter for trainer Roger Varian winning the LR Carnavon Stakes by six lengths at Newbury.  “He has so much speed and we had a feeling the Carnarvon would suit,” Varian explained.  “And he seems a happier horse without headgear.”

Elzaam followed up with a close fourth in the G1 Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot won by Society Rock.  He finished only a head behind third-placed Star Witness.

“He was a high class sprinter in the making,” Varian added after Elzaam was retired last year.  “His runs in the Golden Jubilee and the Haydock Sprint Cup showed that he was very smart and I was really looking forward to campaigning him as a four-year-old.  It was a shame that he got injured and didn’t get the chance to show how good he was.”

Ballyhane manager Joe Foley was equally impressed when Elzaam arrived the County Carlow stud last year.  “He was a cracking two-year-old and is a stunning-looking horse with a great action,” he said.  “He’s got a stallion’s pedigree and is by one of the best sires in the world.”

Elzaam will stand alongside Written Tycoon for a $10,000 (inc gst) service fee at Woodside Park.