Neorealism the next step on Oaklands' new path

A concerted effort by the Stewart family to reshape the future direction of their Oaklands Stud near Toowoomba will see the arrival of international Group 1 winner Neorealism {Jpn} to stand his first season at stud in 2019.

Twelve months after securing Power (GB) from Cambridge Stud, Oaklands Stud has brokered a deal through Magic Millions Sales Director David Chester to bring the Japanese G1 HKJC Queen Elizabeth Cup winner, and son of Neo Universe (Jpn), to Australia. He will stand for $9900 (inc GST).

"We were approached by David Chester of Magic Millions on behalf of a syndicate of Japanese people who were the owners of the horse. They were looking to find a stud suitable to stand him on their behalf," Oaklands Stud principal Neville Stewart told TDN AusNZ.

"The horse is still owned by the original owners who raced him. Once we had a look at his pedigree and saw he was a three-quarter brother to Real Impact (Jpn) and the fact that he'd won $5 million in prizemoney and he is a good front running Group 1 winner who had a good turn of foot, we thought it would work," Said Stewart.

Stewart said his son Alistair, who is taking greater control of Oaklands' operations, has spent considerable time in Japan and has a strong understanding of both the breeding and racing aspect of the industry.

But most importantly, it fitted into the Stewarts' philosophy of changing their own direction, moving away from a focus on speed and precocity which Neville feels has been to the detriment of the Queensland thoroughbred breed over recent decades.

"I think in Queensland there are too many short-course pedigrees and I think for far too long Queensland has been stuck on that. There's an old theory, breed speed for speed, well that is good, but you need some hybrid vigour in there," Stewart said.

"I think a lot of horses bred in Queensland, come up good as 2-year olds, but you don’t see them coming on with any zest as significant 3-year-olds. They just aren't going on."

"The view that myself and Alistair, my son, who is in a position of taking over, is simply we need a stallion that is going to put a bit of hybrid vigour and a little bit of guts into the Queensland broodmare band.

Lessons learned through experience

Stewart's comments are likely to cause a stir, especially considering the success of the likes of Eureka Stud's Spirit of Boom and Lyndhurst Stud's Better Than Ready over the past couple of years.

But his view is very much shaped from his own experience.

In 2015/16, Oaklands Stud's Sidereus, a Group 2 winning son of General Nediym, was the equal leading first-season sire by winners with eight, and while he matched that number of 2-year-old winners with his second crop, none of his progeny were able to break through at stakes level.

With his first crop now only five, the ongoing commercial viability of Sidereus is under a cloud. He will stand at $3300 (inc GST) this year as very much the undercard on the roster.

"His horses raced very well at two and they came back at three and they are competitive, but not in a significant way. It could be a flaw in Queensland having bred too much speed over too many decades," Stewart said.

Power to the people

The acquisition of Oasis Dream's multiple Group 1 winning son, Power, 12 months ago, was the first significant change in strategy for Oaklands.

"He was champion first-season sire in New Zealand when he was at Cambridge Stud and in his second season he was leading sire for individual winners," Stewart said.

"I'm told his foals are very, very nice otherwise I wouldn’t have got him. It will be exciting to see how his foals from his first season here will be received."

"For Queensland, Power is a very good horse. He is a big injection of speed, but one of the reasons we got him is because he was able to go on and win a Group 1 at 3."

Stewart sees Power as in a similar vein to two of Oaklands past star stallions in Iglesia and Lion Hunter.

He served 79 mares in his first season in Queensland, which Stewart felt was a little short of expectations, but understandable given the increased presence of a major player like Aquis in the local market.

"I think Aquis are great for Queensland and the injection of money they have provided Queensland is a godsend," Stewart said.

"But they have got a lot of stallions and it's difficult for a family business like ours to compete with that."

A stallion of rare racetrack ability

The addition of Neorealism to the roster is another leap of faith, but as Stewart points out that there will be few better credentialed racehorses available as stallions in Queensland this season.

"I think he's a very exciting horse. I don’t think Queensland would have ever had a stallion of his racing ability, with a pedigree to suit," he said.

On the track he won eight of his 23 lifetime starts, the highlight being his win in the 2017 G1 Queen Elizabeth S. at Sha Tin, beating local heroes Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal {USA}) and Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).

He claimed a huge scalp in the 2016 G1 Sapporo Kinen, defeating Japanese Champion and now Arrowfield sire Maurice {Jpn}) (Screen Hero {Jpn}). He also won the G2 Nakayama Kinen.

His link with Real Impact (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who won the G1 George Ryder S. and served three seasons at Arrowfield, is also something Stewart feels will help attracting local breeders.

"If you look at his pedigree, it’s probably one of the best female lines in Japan. It's a great Group 1 family. That family has been trialled in Australia by Real Impact going out and winning at Group 1 level before standing at Arrowfield," he said.

"Anybody who liked the pedigree of Real Impact or if Real Impact has a successful run with his progeny on the track, we thought that might be another string to our bow."

He believes that while Neorealism doesn't fit the mould of a typical first-season stallion, he is well worth supporting,

"I hope Queensland will give him a go. We are keen to get him a good book of mares," Stewart said.

"The owners are keen to support him and my understanding is they own a large number of mares and will be buying at the Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale, looking to secure well-bred mares."

Stewart is confident that prospective breeders will be happy with what they see.

"He's already here and he's a magnificent individual. He's got a good nature and is easy to do anything with. You would describe him as a very majestic horse, very stylish. He's a bit like the king. He's got that aura about him. He's a majestic and proud animal," he said.