Host (Chi) wasted no time boosting his local statistics after being transferred to Willow Grove Stud in April.
His South Australian winners last month included Uncle Buck (Strathalbyn), Bienvenido (Mt Gambier) and Who You Know (Morphettville).
Host has made an encouraging start to his stud career siring 64 winners from 98 runners in his first three crops for over $4.40 million in prizemoney. “He’s got a 65% strike-rate which is one of the best in the country,” Willow Grove owner Ralph Satchell said. “We’ve set his fee at $4,400 (inc gst) and that’s great value for a horse of his calibre.”
Satchell arranged the relocation from Swettenham Stud in Victoria and Adam Sangster will continue to support the horse in South Australia. “It was purely a numbers game,” the Woodside-based studmaster explained. “Swettenham has room for six stallions and Adam has just signed up Toronado, Trust In A Gust and Puissance de Lune.”
Host campaigned at the top level throughout his racing career and had a devastating turn of foot that took him to Group 1 victories in the Chilean 2000 Guineas and Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland.
His initial crop was led by Philippi who was a Group 2 winner of the Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill and Alister Clark Stakes at Moonee Valley. He was sold to Hong Kong and, racing under the new name Vanilla, has won two races over 1800m for clients of trainer Caspar Fownes.
Gilgai Farm owner Rick Jamieson, best known as the breeder of world champion Black Caviar, has been one of Host’s strongest supporters. He bred Philippi and believes Host will nick particularly well with the My Babu sireline.
Mares influenced by Sir Tristram and Century immediately come to mind as well Century’s champion sire son Rubiton. Philippi’s second dam is from a mare by Century.
Fellow first-crop son Hosting won the LR Weekend Hussler Stakes at Caulfield and also scored at Rosehill on a hit-and-run trip to Sydney. He is from a Zabeel mare and continues to win races for Greg Eurell despite fracturing a humerus bone at Flemington 12 months ago.
“Host sires athletic types that race up to their good looks,” Satchell added. “His only colt at the 2015 Adelaide Magic Millions sold for $55,000 and he has 85 rising two year-olds so there’s bound to be more stakes winners before his first Willow Grove yearlings go to the sales.”
Another Host with a black-type career ahead is Lindsay Park three year-old Hong Kong Captain. He won the $150,000 VOBIS Gold Star at Moonee Valley during a summer campaign and David Hayes is on record as saying he’s a Group 1 performer of the future.