Golden Archer a perfect fit for Queensland

Raheen Stud has been thrilled by the response to Golden Archer since announcing his retirement last month.

“The feedback has been great,” studmaster Basil Nolan jnr said.  “He’s a perfect fit for Queensland and mares owners have acted accordingly.”

Golden Archer (Rock Of Gibraltar) represents the Danehill sireline and was a top-class Group 1 sprinter for Peter Moody who rated him among the leading half-dozen sprinters in the country.  He will stand for an introductory service fee of $6,600 (inc gst).

Raheen was also pleased with the positive reaction to Captain Sonador’s first foals at the Magic Millions National Sale.  There were no weak links among his draft at the select session – they sold to $26,000 and averaged a buoyant $22,250.

“They were popular with a wide range of buyers,” Nolan explained.  “Some were pin-hooked for the yearling sales next year and, apart from Queensland and Victoria, they also sold to New Zealand and Hong Kong.”

Captain Sonador (Shamardal) was a Group 1 winner of the Epsom Handicap at Randwick and has averaged books of 120 mares in each of his first two seasons at stud.  His fee is unchanged at $11,000 (inc gst) this year.

Raheen’s Testa Rossa sire Publishing is making encouraging headway with his first crop of two year-olds.

First Release notched his first win at the Gold Coast in February and his Adelaide based youngster Print Money scored at Morphettville on June 8.

Print Money originally changed hands as a foal for $15,000 at the 2011 Magic Millions National Sale and trainer Jon O’Connor believes there’s plenty of upside to the youngster.  “He was narrowly touched off the start before breaking through,” O’Connor said.  “He’s much improved and took advantage of the rails to win it running away.”

Talented filly Stories added another notch to Publishing’s first-crop tally at the Gold Coast on June 15.  She won by more than two lengths first-up for local trainer Bryan Guy.

Stories was Publishing’s fifth individual winner and that puts him second to Real Saga on the Queensland first-season winners’ premiership.

Publishing is priced at a $4,400 (inc gst) service fee this year.  For further information on Raheen’s stallions, broodmare owners can contact Basil Nolan (0407 140 711) or Basil Nolan jnr (0407 162 296).