Arrowfield Stud Chairman John Messara claims Not A Single Doubt will be remembered as a horse that took a while to make his mark as a sire, before developing into one that has left an indelible mark on the breeding industry.
Not A Single Doubt retired from stud duties in January 2020 due to a progressive lung disease. He was being cared for by the team at Arrowfield, and on Monday morning, the 21-year-old was euthanised after his health had deteriorated.
“It’s a sad day for us. He was very special to everyone at Arrowfield, and a wonderful flag-bearer for us and for his sire Redoute’s Choice,” Messara told TDN AusNZ.
John Messara
“I’ll remember him as an unpretentious stallion who ultimately proved that he was at the very top rank.
“And thank you to our stallion and veterinary staff for their devoted care of Not A Single Doubt, particularly since his retirement.”
Where it all began
Bred by Arrowfield Stud and John Leaver, Not A Single Doubt is a first-crop son of breed-shaping Champion Sire Redoute's Choice, from two-time winner Singles Bar, a daughter of Rory's Jester and the highly-successful producing mare Easy Date (Grand Chaudiere {Can}).
He was offered by Arrowfield Stud at the 2003 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, where he was knocked down to trainer Graeme Rogerson for $210,000.
With Arrowfield Stud remaining in the ownership, he had five starts for Rogerson, winning his first three, including the Listed Canonbury S., where he was partnered to victory by Larry Cassidy.
Not A Single Doubt winning the Listed Canonbury S. under Larry Cassidy in 2003 | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“I had ridden him in work a bit and he always showed good ability. He won his first two and we were fairly confident heading into the Canonbury, and it was justified as he blitzed them, he gave me a great feel,” Cassidy told TDN AusNZ.
Following his Canonbury romp, the colt ran second to Dance Hero (Danzero) – the subsequent winner of the Australian 2-Year-Old Triple Crown - in the 2004 Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
“Unfortunately, we bumped into Dance Hero in the Magic Millions,” Cassidy added.
“He was a lovely horse to ride and I feel fortunate that I was his jockey for his 2-year-old campaign.
“He (Not A Single Doubt) was a lovely horse to ride and I feel fortunate that I was his jockey for his 2-year-old campaign.” - Larry Cassidy
“He’s been a tremendous sire, too, and will be sorely missed.”
After an unplaced run in the Todman S., the colt was transferred to Tony Vasil where he also had five starts. His best result while in Vasil’s care was a victory in the Listed Zeditave S. in 2005. Not A Single Doubt did finished a close sixth in Elvstroem’s CF Orr S. win at his next start.
From the racetrack to the breeding barn
Not A Single Doubt was retired after an unplaced run in the Newmarket H. of 2005.
From there, he enjoyed a phenomenal career at Arrowfield Stud, climbing his way from the lower end of their roster to sire 16 Group 1 winners and 79 stakes winners (37 colts/geldings & 42 fillies/mares). He has 7.4% lifetime stakes winners to runners.
Not A Single Doubt covered some top-quality mares and stood for fees, GST inclusive, of $88,000, $99,000 and $110,000 in his final three seasons at stud. He has been responsible for 12 yearlings that made one million plus at public auction.
That’s a far cry from his first season (2005), when he stood for $13,750 (inc GST) and covered 128 mares at a fertility rate of 85 per cent. His biggest book was in 2002, when he covered 192 mares (at 79.6 per cent), when standing for the same fee.
Not A Single Doubt showing spirit during a stallion parade at Arrowfield Stud
He has been a fixture among Australia’s leading sires over the past decade and compiled a notable series of achievements in 2015/16 when he was the nation’s leading stallion by worldwide earnings after heading the 3-Year-Old Sires’ table, and finishing second on the General Premiership and third on the 2-Year-Old Sires’ list.
“He carved out an exceptional stud career on sheer merit and we are incredibly proud of him, and everything he has contributed to the Australian thoroughbred industry,” Messara added.
“I’m grateful to Ron Finemore who led his original ownership group and always believed in Not A Single Doubt, to all the breeders who supported him, and to the buyers, owners and trainers who backed his progeny, especially in those critical early years.”
The Peter Moody-trained Doubtful Jack provided Not A Single Doubt the first of 79 stakes winners when he won the Listed Winter Championship Final at Flemington in July 2010. A month later, the Gai Waterhouse-trained Squamosa took out the G3 Run To The Rose at Rosehill.
Doubtful Jack winning the G3 Bobby Lewis Qlty. in September 2010, two months after he became Not A Single Doubt's first stakes winner | Image courtesy of Sportpix
The success of stakes-winning fillies Karuta Queen and Miracles Of Life, coupled with that of Group 1-winning colts Extreme Choice and Farnan, entrenched Not A Single Doubt’s reputation as a sire of high-class, precocious juveniles.
His best-performed sprinters include dual Group 2 and The Everest victor Classique Legend, Group 1 winner Clearly Innocent, Group 1 heroine Instant Celebrity, Group 1 victress Secret Agenda, Group 1 winner Samadoubt.
Classique Legend winning The Everest in 2020 | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
He also sired top-class milers like dual Group 1 victor Scales Of Justice, Hong Kong Group 1 winner Southern Legend and Group 1 hero Mighty Boss.
And, four fillies won elite-level races at 2000 metres and beyond, they being Kenedna, Qafila, Shout The Bar and Single Gaze.
“He started off in a very meek way and took a while to find his feet, but over time he started getting his stakes winners, he got the better mares, and towards the second half of his career we found he was a horse that could get tremendous produce, both colts and fillies, and he became a very respected stallion around Australia,” said Messara.
“He (Not A Single Doubt) started off in a very meek way and took a while to find his feet, but over time he started getting his stakes winners, he got the better mares, and towards the second half of his career we found he was a horse that could get tremendous produce, both colts and fillies...” - John Messara
“He always suffered fertility issues; he was never a super-fertile horse. But, with the limited numbers he got, and he never got massive numbers, he was amazing.
“So, he started unpretentiously and finished with a bang.”
Legacy set to live on
Given the quality of mares he served at the end of his career and the $544,000 average price paid for his final two yearling crops, Not A Single Doubt's greatness will only be further enhanced.
His outstanding Group 1-winning son Extreme Choice could be anything, having already sired seven stakes winners for a combined 11 stakes wins. Among them are Group 1 winners She’s Extreme and Stay Inside.
Extreme Choice is flying the flag for Not A Single Doubt as a sire of sires | Standing at Newgate Farm
Not A Single Doubt is currently 23rd on the Australian General Sires’ table for 2021/22, with his progeny accumulating $6,673,170. From 201 runners, he boasts 78 winners combining for 116 wins, and seven stakes winners have provided seven stakes wins.
He is also 30th on this season’s list of Leading Australia Broodmare Sires, 16th on the Leading Australia 3-Year-Old Sires’ table, and 18th on the Leading Australia 2-Year-Old Sires’ list.
