Date posted June 5, 2009 | Posted by Michele Cullen | Filed under
Racing and Breeding,
Staff Favourites Successful owner and breeder, Tony Santic, is delighted to announce highly credentialed US Stallion STREET HERO will stand alongside Purrealist in the MAKYBE Stallion Barn for the 2009 Breeding Season. Rated one of the highest 2YO’S of his generation during the 2008 Racing Season in the US, STREET HERO defeated eventual champion Midshipman by winning the G1 Norfolk Stakes. Placed in both the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and G1 Del Mar Futurity, STREET HERO never finished worse than 3rd in a race career of just six starts.
A precocious colt who retired early due to injury, STREET HERO showed an amazing turn of foot in his races and was extremely versatile performing over distances ranging from 1100m to 1700m.
“When I saw the pedigree and race replays of Street Hero we couldn’t get our Stud Manager Scott Holcombe to Kentucky quick enough.
“Once Scott laid eyes on STREET HERO and reported ‘Love him!’ I instructed Scott to secure him on the spot”, Santic explained.
Holcombe who has already returned home to MAKYBE could not praise the Group 1 winning son of Street Cry high enough.
“When I first inspected him I loved him! Smart head, strong shoulder and forearm. Physically, you can see why he was so precocious. He ticks all the boxes for us at MAKYBE, a great 2YO and if given the opportunity would have been a classic 3YO”, Holcombe enthused.
In his classic year, Street Hero is standing his first season in the Northern Hemisphere at Vinery Kentucky and will shuttle to MAKYBE in August in time for the season.
“Street Hero was a very talented racehorse, he’s an attractive individual and from a good family.
“You add the international appeal of Street Cry to the mix, and we think this could be a very good opportunity for this young stallion” said Vinery Kentucky General Manager Tom Ludt.
His sire Street Cry, an exceptional young superstar stallion producing Group 1 winners in each of his three crops, including top Australian 3YO Whobegotyou, has exceeded all expectations at stud and already boasts a full book this coming season here in Australia.
“Street Cry has been a sensation at stud right around the world. We believe Street Hero will provide a terrific option for breeders looking to tap into this world class sire line,” said Holcombe.
MAKYBE is now focusing on their stallion operation and Santic’s patience is certainly starting to pay dividends. Taking his time to add to the roster at his state of the art breeding operation, MAKYBE stood their foundation stallion Purrealist last year who served a quality book of 118 mares. Santic believes Street Hero is the perfect choice to join Purrealist at MAKYBE.
“I have no hesitation in sending Street Hero a number of my class mares. No different to Purrealist. Naturally, you want stallions in your barn that you believe in. This is why we have been patient in our selection,” Santic explained.
Street Hero is out of the stakes placed dam Squall Linda by Preakness Stakes winner Summer Squall. It is a proven family of black type winners, including a variety of renowned Australian performers; multiple G1 Oaks filly November Rain along with Race Master and Star Style Girl, the list is extensive.
Following a highly successful year with great results at all major yearling sales and the sales topper at Melbourne Premier, MAKYBE has bred 11 juvenile runners this season producing nine individual winners including three stakes winners.
A decision is yet to be confirmed on whom their champion mare MAKYBE DIVA will be served by this season. She has a lovely athletic Fusaichi Pegasus weanling filly at the stud and is in foal to Australia’s leading sire Encosta de Lago.
The Diva’s Galileo colt, prepared by the MAKYBE team to fetch $1.5M at the William Inglis Sydney Premier Sale, has recently been broken in. He is currently spelling at MAKYBE before embarking on his race career with the powerful Danny O’Brien stable.
Street Hero, independently owned by a syndicate headed by Owner/Breeder/Trainer, Myung Kwon Cho, will shuttle between Vinery Kentucky and MAKYBE Australia. MAKYBE has acquired the southern hemisphere breeding rights to Street Hero and will stand him at a fee of $16,500 (inc gst).
