A number of prominent farms are involved in the venture to fulfil the long-held desire of major share-holder Sir Peter Vela to see Eminent, proven at Group 1 level in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, begin his stallion career in New Zealand.
The New Zealand Bloodstock principal, who also owns the successful broodmare farm Pencarrow Stud has been joined by Cambridge Stud, Curraghmore, Hallmark Stud, Haunui Farm, Nearco Stud, Te Akau, Windsor Park Stud and Valachi Downs to stand Eminent.
He will reside at Brighthill Farm, also a syndicate member, alongside associate stallions Preferment (NZ), Dalghar (Fr) and Perfectly Ready at the Waikato nursery at an introductory fee of NZ$8,000 + GST.
Eminent joins the stallion roster at Brighthill Farm for an introductory fee of NZ$8,000 + GST.
“It’s fantastic to have so many major players involved in the horse and it will give him massive opportunities. It's a great response and we’re delighted to be a part of this,” Brighthill studmaster Nick King said.
“To have the first son of Frankel in the Southern Hemisphere is a real coup. To get one with a Group race record like his is just so exciting and with the quality of his pedigree, his looks are the icing on the cake.”
“It’s fantastic to have so many major players involved in the horse and it will give him massive opportunities.” – Nick King.
“The initial reaction from our clients in general has all been very positive.”
Trained by Martyn Meade, Eminent won his only start as a 2-year-old and opened his classic season with victory in the G3 Craven S. Two starts later he finished a meritorious fourth in the G1 English Derby.
He subsequently won the G2 Deauville Prix Guillaume D’Ornano and was third in the G1 Irish Champion S.
Sir Peter was later joined in partnership in Eminent by the international bloodstock agent Hubie de Burgh with an Australian campaign in mind and, under Sir Mark Todd’s care, he ran a bold debut second in the G1 Ranvet S.
“The more you look at him and particularly his race record, his pedigree speaks for itself, the more credit you have to give to the horse,” King said.
“The more you look at him and particularly his race record, his pedigree speaks for itself, the more credit you have to give to the horse.” – Nick King.
“He won the Craven S. and the horse that was placed behind him was Benbatl. He came down here and swept all before him until be bumped into Winx.
“In his Derby he finished fourth, but was close up and in the Irish Champion S. he was beaten by two older horses.
“In the Group 2 he won in France he beat two French classic horses and Avilius, who’s now racing so well down here.
Sir Mark Todd brought Eminent back from an eight month spell to run second in a Group 1 in his Australian Campaign
“Fair dues to Sir Mark Todd as well after Eminent had a spell and with eight months between racecourse appearances, to run second in a Group 1 in Sydney was pretty impressive.
“Ryan Moore and James McDonald, arguably the two best jockeys in the world, both rated him highly and said he was a genuine Group 1 horse.”
Eminent was initially purchased at the October Yearling Sale in England for 150,000 guineas by agent Dermot Farrington on behalf of New Zealand Bloodstock and Pencarrow Stud principal Sir Peter Vela.
Pedigree notes
He is a son of You’ll Be Mine (USA) (Kingmambo {USA}), who was a 2-year-old winner in Ireland and finished third in the G1 Ascot Fillies’ Mile. Her only other foal to race is the multiple winner As Good As Gold (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}).
You’ll Be Mine is a daughter of Quarter Moon (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}), who was successful in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. and was placed a further four times at the elite level, and a half-sister to the G1 Pretty Polly S. winner Diamondsandrubies (Fastnet Rock).
It is also the family of the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Yesterday (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}), the G1 French 2000 Guineas winner and sire Aussie Rules (USA) (Danehill {USA}), the G1 Prix Royal Oak winner Allegretto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the two-time G1 Newmarket Champion S. winner Alborada (GB) (Alzao {USA}).
“Sir Peter was keen to get him to stud. The horse had very little left to prove, having travelled around the world and raced very well and was still fresh in people’s minds.," King said.
"The horse had very little left to prove, having travelled around the world and raced very well and was still fresh in people’s minds. " - Nick King.
“We got approached a few weeks ago and it’s gone on from there. He was a horse we all followed with great interest and later what he did in Sydney stamped his stallion credentials in this part of the world.”
Eminent retired as the winner of three of his 14 starts and career earnings a shade under $980,000.
Frankel, sire of Eminent
“It’s exciting to have the first Frankel at stud in the Southern Hemisphere,” King said. “Frankel was a global horse and he was the horse of a lifetime.
“He’s doing a massive job at stud and he’s travelling at 17 per cent stakes winners to runners at the moment and left a champion in Cracksman.
“It’s exciting to have the first Frankel at stud in the Southern Hemisphere." - Nick King
“He’s doing just as good a job at stud as he did in the racetrack so that’s really exciting. He’s a really good fit for Brighthill.”
Eminent’s sire Frankel was a 10-time Group 1 winner and recently sired his 30th individual Group winner and the quickest in history to reach that mark, bettering Deep Impact (Jpn) and his own sire Galileo (Ire) in the process.
