By Bren O'Brien
A treble of winners by their stallion Ambidexter (Commands {Aus)} at Morphettville on Saturday couldn’t have come at better time for Cornerstone Stud.
Amberdi, Modulate and Dexelation, all 4-year-olds from Ambidexter's first crop, won the final three races at the Adelaide track on Saturday, right at the time when Cornerstone's Managing Director Sam Hayes and his team are filling up his book of mares for the upcoming season.
"It was great. He's had some good days, but to win three in a row in the city is good for any stallion, let alone one that's only got 18 runners in his first crop," Hayes told TDN Aus/NZ.
A trio of winners
The trio have been doing a tremendous job representing their sire. Amberdi, trained by Sue Jaensch, has won four from six, Modulate (Richard Jolly) five from 15 and Dexelation (Niki O'Shea and Ashton Downing) six from 15.
"They are out of, the breeders wouldn’t mind me saying, relatively modest mares and those horses are stepping through their grades," Hayes said. "They are just showing a good winning attitude."
Dexelation was bought for just $12,000 at the Adelaide Magic Millions Sale, while Modulate was a $42,500 buy at the same sale.
Modulate's dam North Bound (Real Jester {Aus}) is from a talented Lindsay Park family. Her dam is the G3 winning mare Princess Plume and she is a half-sister to stakes winner Visual Displays.
"They are just showing a good winning attitude." - Sam Hayes
Backing the breed
Hayes said Cornerstone are strong believers in Ambidexter as a stallion having recently purchased him off Darley to stand him under their own name.
Ambidexter
"Statistically, his progeny in their 3-year old year won $700,000, from only 16 or 17 runners," Hayes said.
"He was averaging $35-38,000 a runner, which went you look at it is up there with some of the best stallions going around."
Next step, black type
What Ambidexter needs now is a stakeswinner and Modulate could be his next best chance at that as he heads towards the Listed Balaklava Cup on September 12.
In the meantime, Hayes and his team at Cornerstone have had a busy couple of days answering enquiries about Ambidexter.
"Days like that help him get a much better book this year," Hayes said. "A lot of breeders at that $6000-$7000 mark are making their minds up now. It was perfect timing for us yesterday."
