Equiano is positively thriving ahead of his next book of mares at Swettenham Stud.
The Group 1 winning sprinter has just finished his third season at Newsells Park in England and general manager Julian Dollar reports he stopped 122 mares at a 96% fertility rating.
“He takes so little out of himself and hardly breaks into a sweat,” Dollar said from England on Wednesday. “I’m sure Adam Sangster and the Swettenham team know what I’m talking about.
“When he came back from Australia earlier this year, we had to put him on a diet!”
Equiano (Fr) is already in quarantine and shuttles out next Thursday, July 11. He will be on site at Swettenham in time for the stud’s August 25 stallion parade.
“His first foals sold so well at Tattersalls and Goffs last year,” Dollar continued. “And the feedback I’m getting from breeders is that they are developing into magnificent yearlings.”
Equiano has three colts and a filly catalogued for the first of this year’s European majors at the Arqana yearling sale in Deauville next month.
Newsells has also nominated six of the best by Equiano for Book 1 of the Tattersalls October yearling sale including a half-brother to Deacon Blues. He was crowned Europe’s Champion sprinter in 2011 after winning five in a row book-ended by Ascot victories in the Wokingham Stakes and G2 British Champions Sprint.
Equiano (Acclamation) made his name at Royal Ascot with Group 1 triumphs in the 2008 and 2010 King’s Stand Stakes. “The Acclamation sireline has come to life in Europe,” Dollar explained. “Dark Angel was his first son at stud and he’s going from strength to strength this year.”
Dark Angel sired his first Group 1 winner when Lethal Force captured the Diamond Jubilee Stakes on the last day of this year’s Royal meeting.
The Diamond Jubilee result propelled Dark Angel into rarefied company on the British sires’ premiership. He’s currently in the Top 5 behind Galileo, New Approach, Dansili and Dubawi with just three crops racing.
“Equiano was a much better racehorse than Dark Angel,” Dollar declared. “Barry Hills said Equiano is the fastest horse he’s ever trained.
“He has served over 400 mares in three books here and we’re really looking forward to his first two year-olds making a major impact in 2014.”
Equiano will stand for a $16,500 (inc gst) service fee at Swettenham Stud this year.
2013 Arqana Yearling Sale
Equiano has four superbly-bred yearlings entered for the Arqana Sale starting on August 17.
Lot 47: Half-brother to Newmarket stakes winner Bahia Breeze (LR Bosra Sham Stakes) and Hong Kong based Art of Success who won on debut at Sha Tin in May 1.
Lot 145: Colt from G1 Saratoga Test Stakes winner Fabulously Fast. She has already foaled winners in Japan (2), England and France.
Lot 318: Filly from an unraced half-sister to Purr Along (G3 Prix du Calvados). She holds a G1 nomination for the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket on July 12.
Lot 363: Colt from Italian Listed winner Laguna Salada (Invincible Spirit).
Click here to view the catalogue.