The well-related Aysar went close to that goal last season when he was a close second to Ole Kirk in the G1 Caulfield Guineas and victory at the top level would guarantee him a future starring role on the Leneva Park roster.
The stallion side of the operation is in full swing in its inaugural season with Deep Impact’s (Jpn) multiple Group 1-winning son Fierce Impact (Jpn) proving popular, as is associate sire Royal Meeting (Ire).
By Invincible Spirit (Ire), Royal Meeting won the G1 Criterium International and is in his second season at stud after initially standing under the Aquis banner.
They could be joined in the future by Aysar, who was offered by breeder Torryburn Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and originally purchased for $260,000 by Shadwell Stud.
Aysar
“We are going to have two really good books to our two stallions. It augurs well for the future and if Aysar happens to be standing alongside them next year then we will have another really strong candidate to market,” Leneva General Manager Mick Sharkie said.
Aysar raced in the Shadwell colours last season, then Leneva Park and partners (including trainers Ben and JD Hayes’ father David), subsequently purchasing the entire.
“With the sell-off of their stock earlier this year, he was one on the cards to be moved. Aysar was actually sold to Hong Kong, but the money never arrived,” Sharkie said.
“We just happened to be at the right place at the right time (at Lindsay Park) and were on the property looking at another horse.
“JD’s phone rang and he said, you wouldn’t believe it – the money hasn’t come through for Aysar and he’s on the market again. We looked at him on the spot on the farm and decided we would go ahead with it.”
“Aysar was actually sold to Hong Kong, but the money never arrived.” – Mick Sharkie
Aysar’s current preparation has been all about the Sir Rupert Clarke and, following an unplaced resuming run, he finished a sound fourth in the Listed Chautauqua S. at Moonee Valley.
“This is the race he’s been set for and we thought it’s his best chance this spring of getting a Group 1 win to add to his CV. He’s a 4-year-old bull and he’s taken a couple of runs to bring him to peak fitness,” Sharkie said.
“He’s coming off that run at The Valley where Luke Nolen rode him and he knows him well, he’s ridden him before and done a lot of trackwork on him.
“He said the Rupert Clarke is going to be the perfect race for him and he’s going to be absolutely spot on for it. With a bit of luck, he’s going to run a really big race.”
Aysar pictured as a yearling
Coffey booked
With Nolen unable to make the 52kg weight on Saturday, Harry Coffey has been booked for the ride on Aysar.
“He’s got four black type placings to his name and was narrowly beaten in the G1 Caulfield Guineas. If he was to win a Group 2 or 3, we would be able to do something with him at stud and if he can win a Group 1 he has obvious commercial value,” Sharkie said.
“We’re watching the fortunes closely of Russian Revolution. If his progeny come out running, we’ll be in a pretty good spot.”
A half-brother to G2 Silver Slipper S. winner Home Affairs (I Am Invincible), Aysar is out of Miss Interiors (Flying Spur), who is a half-sister to the two-time Group 1 winner and sire Russian Revolution.
Strong breeder support
Meanwhile, Leneva has been delighted with the breeder response this season to both Fierce Impact and Royal Meeting.
“It’s been really positive and Fierce Impact is on track to cover 130 to 150 mares, that was our goal at the start of the season,” Sharkie said.
“Each week we are getting close and I’m really confident about those numbers. It’s all good news so we’re rocking and rolling through the rest of the season.
“Royal Meeting has been a bit of a quiet achiever and once his foals hit the ground he’s been getting rave reviews. They have come from good judge like Mike O’Donnell at Fairhill Farm.
“He’s got a big rap on the two he has at his property and likewise Jon Kenneally at Erinvale is very happy with what he’s seeing. He is there for those that want to support him and he’ll probably shoot up over 100 mares I think.”
Teamwork paying off
Sharkie said a strong united effort had laid the foundation for Leneva’s launch into the stallion market.
“We are stoked with the support in our first foray into this side of things and I think a few people would have been sitting back and wondering how we were going to go with a first-season sire and overseas second-season sire.
“All credit to nominations team headed up by Mitchell Brown, who has worked his backside off and the results are coming through.
“We continue to take positive steps forward. We want to become a genuine service provider and offering quality stallions to the market, inspired by farms like Rosemont and Widden now coming here.
“There is a lot of positivity in Victoria and we want to keep that trend going.”
