October 9th, 2006

STALLIONS continue its series of profiles of horses at stud this season, among them is the Galaxy winner Charge Forward. 

A precocious juvenile, he defeated subsequent Golden Slipper winner Dance Hero by more than two lengths into third place when they made their debut in the Listed Breeders’ Plate at Randwick on October 4, 2003, the first two-year-old stakes race of the season. 

Purchased by trainer John O’Shea for $100,000 at the Gold Coast Magic Millions earlier the same year, he gave connections an inkling of his speed at his first official trial at Randwick on September 22, winning the 800m event by three lengths in a slick 47.93. 

Given a break after the Breeders’ Plate, the son of Red Ransom and the South African Group I winner Sydney’s Dream, by Bletchingly, resumed with a third in the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes to Crimson Reign and Segments. Charge Forward was back in the winner’s enclosure two weeks later when triumphant in the Group 2 Todman Slipper Trial at Rosehill.

Stepping out in the Group I Golden Slipper at his next start Charge Forward was only beaten a short neck by the gelded Dance Hero in race record 1:08.60 for the 1200m with the high-class Alinghi in third.

Charge Forward finished his juvenile season with a sixth to Dance Hero in the Group I AJC Sires’ Produce Stakes.

In his classic season Charge Forward commenced his campaign in the Group 2 San Domenico Stakes at Randwick. Returning to the winners’ enclosure immediately with victory over Fastnet Rock and Dance Hero. Fastnet Rock got the better of him at his next outing in the Group 3 Roman Consul Stakes.

O’Shea sent Charge Forward to Victoria for the Group I Invitation Stakes where he finished sixth of 13, in a leader dominated event, behind Regal Roller. 

The trainer then tried Charge Forward over further that Spring stepping him up to the mile of the Group I Caulfield Guineas where finished 14th of 16 behind Enconsul at his first attempt at a mile.

Back in action the following autumn Charge Forward finished third in the Group 2 AJC Challenge Stakes over 1000m at Warwick Farm. 

At this point his ownership changed with Arrowfield's John Messara and partners purchasing Charge Forward as a stallion prospect. 

Having his final start in the AJC’s Group One The Galaxy, the club’s premier sprint for older horses during the Easter carnival, Charge Forward was greeted with a wet track.

The three-year-old got back early in the high-pressure contest and guided by Darren Beadman he stormed home to defeat the very fast Spark of Life and Red Oog. 

It was a fitting finale and Charge Forward retired sound and with a record of four wins and as many placings from 11 starts with more than a million dollars in earnings.

Charge Forward is by the Roberto horse Red Ransom, who has his share of good performers in America and Australia including the Champion Turf Mare Perfect Sting whose 14 wins include the Group I Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf amongst his 66 stakes winners. In addition to Charge Forward, his runners in the southern hemisphere include the Blue Diamond runner-up and multiple group winner Halibery, the Group 2 Moonee Valley Stakes winner Red Dazzler and Silver Slipper winner Domesday. 

Charge Forward’s dam Sydney’s Dream was bred by Widden Stud using the champion Star Kingdom-line sire Bletchingly over the imported Dream Appeal, a daughter of another noted speed influence in Valid Appeal. Also the dam of the stakes winner Marskin (Marscay) and Settler’s Cove (Luskin Star) and the stakes placed sire Lord Dane (Danehill) among her five winners, Dream Appeal is a half-sister to Canadian Oaks winner Par Excellence (L’Enjoleur) and to the dam of Irish Oaks runner-up Hawajiss (Kris).

Sydney’s Dream was sold to race in South Africa and her five wins included the Group I Allan Robertson Fillies’ Futurity and one of her Australian-bred foals is the South African stakes-placed Sydney’s Joy (by Royal Academy). She is a daughter of three-time Champion sire Bletchingly. 

Bletchingly’s daughters have produced more than 80 stakes winners including Bonanova, Telesto, El Mirada, Stella Cadante, Special Dane and Clay Hero.

Another benefit for breeders’ is Charge Forward is free of Northern Dancer/Mr Prospector, but mating mares carrying the blood of these sires will give immediate duplications of Nashua (Mr Prospector) and Nearctic (Northern Dancer).

Charge Forward stands for a fee of $24,750 (inc gst) for his second season at Arrowfield Stud where he had a very good start to his stud career in 2005, covering 125 mares.