August 4th, 2008

The success rate is astonishing. Leading USA Second Season Sire by winners HOLD THAT TIGER is really starting to feature on a daily basis in the US for winners. 

When we say daily, we mean just that …. August 1st and 2nd ….. six winners and two seconds (two on turf, one All Weather Track and three Dirt). Not just mediocre races, as the races won were US $100k (2YO Stakes Race); $35k; $33k; $22k; $8k and $6k. The seconds were a $73k Stakes race and a US$9k race.

May was a solid month 11 winners (4 first time winners) and even more runners up spots (15 in actual fact). It was a significant month as the first 2YO races for the new season were held over the flying 400m with both $40k races resulting in two placings for HTT stock (a 2nd and a 3rd).

June saw 17 winners (10 first time winners, including two 2YO’s) with more on Turf and the All Weather Tracks than the dirt. July was similar with 15 winners (9 first time winners, including two new 2YO winners).

So are they really maturing as 3YO’s to feature so often? The answer is yes and they are certainly showing a much better strike rate when his runners appear on turf which was the preferred surface for Hold That Tiger. They also seem much better when not bustled early in the race and allowed to balance up and hit the line. The average winning margin in the last 20 winners has been 3 lengths so they have been winning very decisively.

So now he sits on 69 winners - 3 stakeswinners, 6 stakesplaced, US$2.7m Earnings. With over 65% winners to runners from his first crop in the US.

The 2YO Stakes winner was Tiger Shark who won the John Franks Memorial Sales Stakes US$100,000 by a half-length after being posted four wide for the entire 1100m trip. A chestnut gelding from the Saratoga Six mare In By Six the juvenile won in very convincing fashion. 

Fourth at the half mile but wide he went up to lead at the 600m mark, but was unable to cross the leaders (being stuck out on a limb). Dropping back at the 400m, but still there in second place he really started to motor 4 wide on the bend and was just too strong for the opposition down the run to the wire. 

This was a great result after Hold That Tiger’s 3YO Saratoga Avenue was beaten half-a-length in the Count Latham Hcp 1700m Stakes at Northlands earlier in the day in Canada after doing all the work leading to within the shadows of the post.

Hold That Tiger stands at Swettenham Stud in Victoria this spring at a service fee of $13,200 (inc GST – live foal guarantee – free return).

November 14th, 2007

Swettenham Stud's shuttle sensation Hold That Tiger has had his 17th individual winner with the victory of My Heart My Love, a colt by the exciting freshman sire son of Storm Cat, Kyoto in Japan.

Trained by Kunihide Matsuda, the colt was sent out in the five million yen race (A$51,000) as one of the leading contenders after placing at his two only other starts.

Under Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Yasunari Iwata, My Heart My Love, cruised home to beat Fujino Arion by three parts of a length, while Chiaro was another length and a quarter back in third place.

My Heart My Love is one of five winners from the unraced Deputy Minister mare Propose To Me.  A daughter of the group performed Mr. Prospector mare Propisitioning, Propose To Me is a half-sister to two stakes performers including the Group One Saratoga winner Deposit Ticket.

Hold That Tiger’s other early stars include the recent American stakes winners Mikimoto's Mojo and Old Man Buck.

Hold That Tiger is continuing to cover a top class book of mares at Swettenham Stud in Victoria at a service fee of $9,900 (inc gst - free return).

September 2nd, 2007

Swettenham Stud's red hot shuttler Hold That Tiger was represented by his eighth winner overnight in the United States.

Do the Tiger, a promising filly who'd run fourth in stakes class at her previous only outing, led her rivals a merry dance in a five furlong contest at Louisiana Downs.

Prepared by Ralph Irwin, Do the Tiger sat on the speed during the early stages before taking control after turning for home and then romping clear for a six length demolition of her rivals.

Do the Tiger showed plenty of ability at her only previous outing when she was fourth in the listed John Franks Memorial Sale Stakes.

The dark bay or brown filly is the first runner to date for the dual winning Unaccounted For mare Hussy.

Hussy, who won up to six furlongs, is a half sister to the Belmont stakes winner Pelham Bay, being from the Santa Anita Group Two victor Brazen.

Hold That Tiger has made a bright start to his siring career and with eight individual juvenile winners already, he is sitting in great company on the sires tables in the United States.

When ranked by individual winners Hold That Tiger sits above highly regarded freshman sires Vindication, Aldebaran, Sky Mesa, Mineshaft and Empire Maker.

Hold That Tiger has settled back into his spring home at Swettenham Stud in Victoria and is preparing to serve a quality line up mares at the value service fee of $13,200 (inc GST).  The son of Storm Cat, an international Group One winner at two, is standing alongside Bianconi, Court of Jewels, Dash for Cash and Keep The Faith. 

August 26th, 2007

Michael’s Dreamin’ became Hold That Tiger’s sixth individual first crop winner when he demolished his rivals on debut in a US$28,000 juvenile stakes at Arlington Park on Wednesday.

With Larry Sterling in the saddle, Michael’s Dreamin’ led to the turn in the six furlong before barnstorming clear of his rivals to win by eight and a half lengths.

Trained by Michael Reavis for the Greco Racing Stable, Michael’s Dreamin’ looks a two-year-old with an extremely bright future.

Hold That Tiger, a son of the world’s most expensive sire Storm Cat, is establishing himself as one of the more promising young shuttle sires of the United States.

His chief earner to date, the promising youngster Broderick, went close to winning another race this week when he finished an eye catching second in a strong juvenile race.

News of Hold That Tiger’s sensational runaway winner in America comes at a time when a number of owners and trainers have been providing positive early reports on members of his first Australia’s crop who’ll hit the track soon.

“Warren Sutton, a leading horse breaker at Creightons Creek, has been responsible for over 160 this season and when asked to rate the first season stallions he had Hold That Tiger as number one,” Swettenham Stud’s marketing manager Ian Rimington said.

“The Corstens family recently reported that their Hold That Tiger colt was showing ability and was shaping up as an early runner,” he added.

Rimington said while the immediate future of a number of top international stallions remained uncertain with quarantine concerns, Hold That Tiger was happily settled at Swettenham preparing for the start of the breeding season on September 1.

Hold That Tiger was a champion two-year-old who won three races in his initial season on the track highlighted by his emphatic victory in the Group One Grand Criterium (7f) at Longchamp.

The handsome young stallion stands this spring at Swettenham Stud at a service fee of just $13,200 (inc GST - live foal guarantee).

August 13th, 2007

The great start to the siring career of Swettenham Stud's shuttle sire Hold That Tiger continues in the America recording his fifth winner.

Following the impressive recent wins of Loveyouintheworld, Mikimoto's Mojo and Seaside Storm, Shangai Babe has joined the list of first crop winners for Hold That Tiger - a champion juvenile son of world sire sensation Storm Cat.

Shangai Babe, a filly with strong Australasian links, cruised home in the five furlong contest to beat Twin Strike and Katrina Light.  The attractive filly had finished third at her previous start and looks a youngster with a bright future.

Her dam Let's Sgor, a daughter of Creag-An-Sgor, won six races in New Zealand during her career before being exported to the United States.  She is best remembered for winning the Group One double of the New Zealand Oaks and Championship Stakes.  Members of her family include New Zealand Group winner Torquay, Seraphic, Irlanda, Spring Rain and Sir Daniel.

Meanwhile, Hold that Tiger looks to have a smart juvenile in Canada in the shape of Broderick.  The colt, making his career debut, ran an eye catching third placing and looks a coming winner.

A number of leading stables around Australia are providing Swettenham Stud with positive reports on his first Australian crop who tomorrow will officially turn two - earlier this year they sold up to $170,000.

Hold That Tiger was a champion two-year-old who won three races in his initial season on the track highlighted by his emphatic victory in the Group One Grand Criterium (7f) at Longchamp.

A three-quarter-brother to successful international sire Hennessy (sire of Aussie stars Grand Armee and Half Hennessy), Hold That Tiger stands this spring at Swettenham Stud at the value service fee of $13,200 (inc GST).  Breeders interested in sending a mare to Hold That Tiger this spring should contact Swettenham's Ian Rimington immediately and ask for the current special offer, which lasts for a limited time only.