Natural Destiny is gearing up for his third season at Willowbend Stud and he has been given every chance to succeed at stud covering a total of 172 mares in his first two books.
Taking advantage of a $4,400 (inc gst) service fee this spring will pay dividends when they are sold at the 2013 Magic Millions yearling sales.
By then, Natural Destiny’s first crop will be firing on all cylinders as autumn three year-olds. “We couldn’t be happier with Natural Destiny,” studmaster David Lucas explained. “I reckon he will be a real asset to our breeding industry. He had blistering speed and Queenslanders love speed.
“He is among the best value stallions in the State at a $4,400 fee!”
Natural Destiny hails from a family saturated with speed. His older half-brother Grey Regent (Mr Henrysee) won 11 races up to 1110m including the Shannons Classic Sprint at Flemington.
Their dam is a half-sister to flying machine Ossie Cossie who won 19 races up to 1200m. Her best win was in the Listed Lightning Stakes at Randwick and she also won down the straight-six at Flemington.
Natural Destiny also earned a berth in the G1 Salinger Stakes at Flemington after winning 7 of his first 9 starts in Brisbane and Sydney.
“We still hadn’t seen the bottom of Natural Destiny at that stage and I don’t think we ever did,” trainer Gordon Yorke said. “He ran out of his skin in the Salinger and was only beaten two lengths by Dance Hero and Miss Andretti.”
The grey returned home and re-asserted his superiority with a clean-sweep of the Doomben Triple Crown. His performance in the second leg had to be seen to be believed. He won the Listed BTC Doomben Stakes pulling up by a big space after blundering at the start.
He clocked a blistering 1.17.09s for the 1300m which broke Falvelon’s track record and Takeover Target’s race record!
Natural Destiny backed up a fortnight later and stepped up to 1615m in the Bernborough Handicap. Burdened with 58kg, he cruised up to the leaders and proved a mile was well within his scope to score by three lengths.
Yorke was keen to set him for the G1 Doncaster Mile but the striking grey was forced into retirement after surgery failed to repair an injured near-side fetlock.
Natural Destiny’s first crop are new-season yearlings and the majority of them will be catalogued for the Magic Millions QTIS 600 Sale next March. Nominations for all the Magic Millions yearling sales close this Friday, August 6.
“The QTIS scheme will suit the Natural Destinys,” Lucas predicted this week. “We have some really nice types by him at Willowbend and the feedback we’re getting from outside studs is also positive.”
Respected trainer Albert Stapleford is another Natural Destiny fan and having his seal of approval is especially pleasing. He has been training winners for 50 years and one his best was top-class colt Magic Albert who is now making an impact as a sire at Yarraman Stud.
“I saw a Natural Destiny’s filly on the (NSW) Central Coast last month,” Stapleford said. “She’s the best youngster I’ve seen his year.”
The eye-catching filly is owned by Erina based breeder Manny Warkotz and is from Sanction Lady who descends from Caulfield Cup winner How Now.
Broodmare owners can contact Willowbend Stud’s David Lucas (0438 114 134) or Ben Lucas (0438 614 134) for more information on Natural Destiny.