Arrowfield

It was former Segenhoe Stud chairman Michael Sissian who noted that in the thoroughbred breeding business a 10 per cent success rate is outstanding.

He was right. Very few farms achieve that figure and when one does, its brand is indeed worth its weight in gold. Even more so when that strike rate is sustained over a period of time.

Arrowfield has done it at Inglis Easter, with 10.4% Stakeswinners/Lots Offered over ten years, 2010-19.
The Stud’s Easter record in that period includes 13 Group 1 winners, among them Champions The Autumn Sun (5 Group 1 victories), Golden Slipper winner Estijaab and South African star Majmu, and young stallions Alabama Express and Super Seth.

The Group-winning 2YO filly Mallory has already emerged from Arrowfield’s privately-sold 2020 Easter draft. It’s an imposing record driven by four key factors that together make Arrowfield Australia’s No. 1 vendor and leading source of Group 1 winners, stakeswinners and stallion prospects.

First of all, there’s formidable sire power. Arrowfield stallions have won 8 of the past 15 Australian General Sires’ titles. The dynamic dynasty of the Redoute’s Choice and his sons Snitzel and Not A Single Doubt is collectively responsible for 10% Stakeswinners/Runners from their southern hemisphere progeny.

Arrowfield will offer 16 Easter yearlings by history-making four-time Champion Sire Snitzel; four colts from the final crop of Redoute’s Choice; and two fillies from Not A Single Doubt’s penultimate crop. But there has been no complacency by renowned stallion-maker John Messara and his brains trust. Next generation sires Dundeel (already the sire of five Group 1 winners), Japan’s boom sire Maurice, Shalaa (sire of Breeders’ Plate and Magic Millions winner Shaquero) and popular first-crop sire Pariah offer
juicy opportunities to join the next round of Arrowfield stallion success.

Then there’s the Stud’s broodmare band, built and refined over the past decade by a range of global partnerships and rigorous assessment and selection. They give exceptional support to Arrowfield’s young stallions and maximise the proven superior class of Champion sires. No better examples than The Autumn Sun and Alabama Express, conceived when Redoute’s Choice was 18 and 19. The dams of Arrowfield’s 49 Easter 2021 yearlings include eight Group 1 winners, five Group winners and six Listed winners. Nine mares from this group are represented by their first or second foals.

Nine Arrowfield Easter yearlings are out of proven stakes producers, among them the dams of Champion racehorse and leading young sire Dundeel, Blue Diamond G1 winner Tagaloa, Caulfield Guineas G1 winner Super Seth and Group winners Missile Mantra and Pariah. The Arrowfield consignment represents dazzling families that have already left champions across the globe: Alinghi, Forensics, Hartnell, In Her Time, King’s Legacy, Makybe Diva, More Joyous, Redoute’s Choice, Pierro, Zabeel and Zeditave in Australia; Aerolithe, Fierement, Indy Champ, Kinshasa No Kiseki, Mikki Isle, Neorealism, Real Impact, Shonan Pandora, Stay Gold and World Premiere in Japan; and Almanzor, Darjina, Ervedya, Manduro, Valixir and Vadawina in Europe.

The third key factor in Arrowfield’s success is the close-knit team of Arrowfielders, many of them industry leaders in their specialist fields. The Stud is family-owned, led by John Messara and his wife Kris, with their son, Group 1 trainer Paul and his wife Alice. Their family values of loyalty and integrity, innovation and excellence infuse the entire business. The farm itself is the fourth jewel, on 2500 acres of prime land in the fertile Segenhoe Valley, and the recently developed 700-acre Summer Farm on the Williams River. Investment is constant, in pasture, irrigation, fencing and facilities such as the magnificent Sales Centre, custom-designed for safety and efficiency by Paul Messara. This is what stands behind Arrowfield’s solid gold brand, a 35-year record of stellar achievement, with the prospect of so much more to come.

Bloodstock Manager Jon Freyer selects six spectacular brand-bearers from the draft that Arrowfield will proudly present at Inglis Easter 2021:

LOT 45 – SNITZEL – RISING ROMANCE COLT
“Outstanding colt, perfectly sized to make a two-year-old. A handsome, beautifully formed individual who moves exceptionally well.”

LOT 107 – PARIAH – SULTRY DREAMER FILLY
“We have been super impressed with Pariah’s first crop and this filly might just be the best. She has a wonderful easy action, a beautiful head, lovely shoulder and deep girth.
She has that strong look about her of Blue Diamond winner and leading sire Zeditave, who features prominently in her pedigree.”

LOT 178 – DEEP IMPACT – ABBEY MARIE FILLY
“If ever a filly was bred to win an Oaks this is it, and she looks exactly like that. An elegant, quality, feminine filly very much in the mould of her dam and her Champion sire Deep Impact.”

LOT 236 – SNITZEL – CARRY ON ALICE COLT
“Carry On Alice was a sensational racemare in South Africa. She was blindingly fast and this colt looks the same. He is a big, imposing individual with ample leg, but also tremendous girth and a great hip.”

LOT 260 – SHALAA – DAME PATTIE COLT
“Who couldn’t be impressed with Shalaa, and this colt from a daughter of Alinghi is as good as you will see. Powerful and masculine with great athleticism: I can see him in the parade for a Slipper or the Diamond.”

LOT 455 – SNITZEL – NORZITA FILLY
“This filly is a princess from a queen. Norzita was an exceptional looker and this filly has her scope, depth and graceful movement. She looks a real Guineas type.”

2021 Draft