It is a busy weekend across the Hunter Valley, with stallion parades at all the major studs. TDN AusNZ's Bren O'Brien spoke to Aquis, Yarraman Park & Arrowfield about how their stallions were received on the first day.
Aquis Farm
With an open house throughout the weekend at Aquis Farm keeping the team busy, Aquis chairman Tony Fung was among those to attend their parades.
Centre stage were their two new stallions Invader (Snitzel) and Spieth (Thorn Park), as well as Divine Prophet (Choisir), whose foals are already making a considerable impression.
"Invader has been fully booked for quite some time, and a lot of people who would have booked him on his credentials, got to inspect him physically," Aquis CEO Shane McGrath said.
"Speith was very popular as well. Everyone was amazed by how well he has let down."
"We were also keen to get people to see Divine Prophet because we have some cracking foals around the place and he's a hot a second-season stallion as we have in the Hunter.
Yarraman Park
Yarraman Park paraded their star, the champion I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), as well as his first season sire son Hellbent (I Am Invincible).
"He's a similar type of horse to his sire," Yarraman Park's Harry Mitchell said. "He's not a big a horse, but he was very well received."
"He's booked out, but it was great for people to get a look at him. He's certainly let down well since he arrived here in about May."
"He's booked out, but it was great for people to get a look at him." - Harry Mitchell
Arrowfield Stud
Arrowfield's bloodstock manager Jon Freyer said new stallion Pariah (Redoute's Choice) drew plenty of attention at their parades.
"Everyone has been really impressed with Pariah. He's obviously a new horse, so he's almost the star of the show," Freyer said.
"Snitzel was an exciting stallion for people to see. He has done so well and is the champion sire of the past two seasons. He's obviously a horse which creates a lot of interest."
Freyer said that Japanese star Maurice (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) had also been very popular ahead of his second season at Arrowfield.
"He just looks magnificent. He's such a superb physical specimen. The people that have seen him are amazed by how he has looked this year."
