(from ANZ Bloodstock News)
Woodside Park believes a combination of “brilliance and toughness in the same package” will make Celestial Legend (Dundeel) a very attractive proposition for breeders after unveiling the dual Group 1 winner as the newest addition to its stallion roster for an opening fee of $27,500 (all fees inc. GST).
Once he had been retired by owner Bon Ho following his unplaced run in this year’s George Ryder Stakes (Gr 1, 1500m), Woodside swooped to purchase 50 per cent of the head-turning grey whose crowning achievements came when he blazed a trail through Sydney’s 2024 autumn carnival, culminating in his memorable victory in the time-honoured Doncaster Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m).
A persistent POD lesion meant that electrifying win, which came off the back of his Randwick Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) triumph, would remain the pinnacle of his career but he will now get the chance to become the latest son of Dundeel (High Chaparral) to convert racetrack brilliance into stud success after joining Woodside’s roster for the upcoming season.
He joins shuttle stallion Benbatl (Dubawi), who returns from Japan for a second season for an unchanged fee of $22,000, two-time Group 1 winner Shalaa (Invincible Spirit), Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) hero Vancouver (Medaglia D’Oro), elite–level sprinter Foxwedge (Fastnet Rock), Rich Enuff (Written Tycoon) and Delaware (Frankel) at Woodside’s spacious property.
The fees for Shalaa ($19,800), Rich Enuff ($13,200) and Delaware ($7,700) remain at their 2024 levels, while both Vancouver and Foxwedge have been reduced to $8,800 from their previous mark of $9,900 partly in order to meet the market and also to reflect an increasingly uncertain economic climate.
But it is undoubtedly the recruitment of Celestial Legend which will capture the imagination, not only due to his striking looks but also the fact that his sire’s sons Castelvecchio and Super Seth have made such promising starts to their careers in the breeding barn.
Labelled “the best horse I’ve ever trained” by his venerable trainer Les Bridge, Celestial Legend has already settled into his new surroundings ahead of a debut season which will include matings with Woodside’s own broodmares as well as several Ho will send his way.
On Thursday morning Ho, whose red and white colours were carried to victory by Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt) in the 2020 Everest (1200m), paid a visit to Celestial Legend’s new home in Tylden, Victoria.
Like the team at Woodside, Ho is excited to see the four-year-old start out in his new venture, which represents the Hong Kong–based businessman’s first foray into the stallion market.
“Woodside is a magnificent place so Celestial Legend has found a really good home and I’m sure he will be very happy here,” Ho told ANZ Bloodstock News.
“I’ve been a horse owner for over ten years in Australia and together with Classique Legend, Celestial Legend is definitely one of the top two horses I’ve ever owned. I particularly liked him because of his temperament, and he obviously looks magnificent. I’ve always loved him and he never failed to amaze me when we took him to the races.
“His turn of foot was amazing, and the way he went past other horses and the excitement he gave all of us is unforgettable. I will always remember him as one of my favourite racehorses, and I’m sure he’s going to become a very good stallion for at least the next ten years.
“It’s a new venture for me and it’s a new page of life for Celestial Legend. Because I was so lucky to own a horse like him, it’s only natural that I would want him to become a stallion. Hopefully with the mares I have, we can produce some exciting horses for Woodside.”
Melbourne businessman Eddie Hirsch, who took over Woodside in July, 2021, revealed his delight at acquiring a horse of Celestial Legend’s stature and believes his introductory service fee represents genuine value for money.
“I’m really excited about teaming up with influential owner Bon Ho and making Celestial Legend a successful stallion,” Hirsch told ANZ Bloodstock.
“It’s not very often that you’ll find brilliance and toughness in the same racehorse package, but that’s exactly what you get with Celestial Legend. He’s an absolute standout and was a champion racehorse.
“We looked all over Australia and even overseas to try to find a quality stallion, and we think we’ve found one in Celestial Legend. When the opportunity came up, we were very keen to do a deal with Bon.
“We wanted to purchase a racehorse straight off the track, and we’re absolutely delighted to get Celestial Legend because he’s just a magnificent horse. We’re very lucky to have him at Woodside, and it’s really exciting for Victoria to have a horse of his quality standing here. I’m sure he will be very attractive for the local market and for breeders right across the country.”
Those sentiments were echoed by Woodside’s general manager, Anthony Bueti, who believes Celestial Legend will prove an invaluable addition to Victoria’s burgeoning stallion ranks.
“Celestial Legend was an absolutely outstanding three-year-old,” he told ANZ Bloodstock.
“Winning the Hobartville Stakes, the Randwick Guineas and the Doncaster Handicap in succession was some effort. I think he will be ideal for the VOBIS scheme, and I do think it’s a big positive for Victoria to attract a horse of his quality.”
Celestial Legend’s dam Sarraqa (Snitzel), a three-quarter sister to South African Grade 1 winners Rafeef and Mustaaqeem (both Redoute’s Choice), was acquired for $675,000 at the 2017 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale by Arrowfield.
John Messara’s famed farm subsequently sold her first foal – who would become Celestial Legend – to Ho under his Legend Racing banner for $220,000 at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
While Sarraqa never made it to the racetrack, her dam National Color (National Assembly) was an elite–level performer having been named the joint winner of the South African Racehorse of the Year award in 2006.
She closed her career with a European swansong in 2008, which included a runner-up finish in the Nunthorpe Stakes (Gr 1, 5f) at Newmarket in the UK, having previously campaigned in Dubai.
Which brings us neatly onto Benbatl, who was the very definition of a globetrotter having won Group 1 races in Australia, Dubai and Germany before retiring to stud at Big Red Farm in Japan, where his oldest progeny are still only juveniles.
By the legendary sire Dubawi (Dubai Millennium), whose son Too Darn Hot has made a huge impression in a short space of time on Australian shores, Benbatl was well received during his first season at Woodside, who supported him with several stakes-winning mares including Yosei (Invincible Spirit) (Group 1 winner), Madam Gangster (Al Maher), So Pristine (Zabeel), Metastasio (Street Cry) and Lady Melksham (Artie Schiller).
Woodside’s nominations manager, Mark Dodemaide, believes that while many potential clients will visit the farm to take a closer look at Celestial Legend, they won’t fail to notice his fellow resident when he returns to the fold in August.
“If you like Dubawi, you will love Benbatl,” he told ANZ Bloodstock.
“It’s no surprise to me that he won those Group 1s all around the world, he’s just such a professional with a fantastic temperament. When you have a horse with an international rating of 125 and in the top ten worldwide, clearly you are talking about a serious racehorse.
“In his two Australia starts he won the Caulfield Stakes and ran second to Winx in the Cox Plate, they were both over 2000 metres but I think he was actually a miler who only stretched out to 2000 metres because he tried so hard in his races.
“He was fantastic in the Group 1 Dubai Turf over 1800 metres, sitting right on the pace and sprinting away from some top-class Japanese horses. Another measure of his sharpness was at his second last start in the Joel Stakes over the Newmarket mile, when he set a new track record.
“He’s just a great type, it’s obviously still early in his stud career so he hasn’t had the chance to prove himself just yet, but I do think people will really sit up and take notice of him when they come to the farm.”
Unlike the relative newcomer, Shalaa is a Woodside stalwart and Dodemaide believes he is perhaps underrated as a stallion, having enjoyed another highly successful season headlined by Mornington Glory’s victory in the Moir Stakes (Gr 1, 1000m) at Moonee Valley last September.
Mornington Glory was one of six individual stakes winners this season for Shalaa, whose progeny continue to sell well with his filly out of stakes-winning mare Lyuba (Turffontein) fetching $240,000 at this year’s Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
“He’s just an outstanding type and he’s now known for getting a really good sort,” said Dodemaide.
“If you look at his six stakes winners this season – Mornington Glory, Recommendation, Eagle Nest, Jennilala, Welwal and recent Nakayama winner Invincible Papa – they all seem to be getting better with age.
“So we think he represents great value, and the same applies to all our stallions. Rich Enuff is the sire of nine stakes winners and right now he is running at 72.1 per cent winners to runners.
“At $8,800 including GST, Foxwedge is arguably the best value in Australia when it comes to stallions. He’s had 26 stakes winners, including five at Group 1 level, so when comparing apples with apples he is almost impossible to beat.”
