The thoroughbred breeding industry has never been short of an ‘opinion’, but if there is one thing that we can all agree upon with absolute certainty is that there are are no certainties.
Still, there are plenty of major Australian breeders that are prepared to predict that a very fast entire by the name of Nostradamus will be the closest you can get to a sure thing when he eventually retires to stud.
Nostradamus definitely took a stride in the right direction on Saturday when he captured the Group Three RN Irwin Stakes at Morphettville in barnstorming fashion for Adelaide trainer, Phillip Stokes, and is poised to chase Group One honours in the Goodwood Handicap in May.
Proactive Victorian farm, Rosemont Stud, purchased Nostradamus as a stallion prospect late last year and according to principal, Anthony Mithen, he didn’t have much trouble convincing “heavy hitters” to get on board.
“We (Rosemont) on-sold 20 breeding rights to Nostradamus and those who came on board include David Kobritz’s Musk Creek, Rob Crabtree, Michael Christian, Rushton Park, Hollylodge, Glentree, Princeton, Lauriston, Peter Carrick, Brian McKnight … all prominent Victorian breeders.
“Saturday went a long way toward repaying that faith but I still think the best is yet to come and believe he’ll be hard to beat in the Goodwood and, for that matter, might even have a crack at the Stradbroke in Brisbane.”
Even if Nostradamus comes away without a trophy at racing’s most elite level, Mithen is confident it won’t harm his prospects at stud: “Sure, a Group One is what we all chase, but I believe that good looking, well performed, fast, well-bred horses just work at stud. Take a look at I Am Invincible, Hinchinbrook and Written Tycoon – not a Group One between them but I’d be proud to stand any of them.
“Nostradamus is by Medagalia D’oro – sire of Champion 2YO, Vancouver – and he won very well on debut at two, before winning the Group Three San Domenico when resuming at three, and then the Gold Coast Guineas. Effectively, a super precocious 2YO who has won at Group level at three and four.”
Bred and sold by Almavale Bloodstock as a yearling for $500,000, Nostradamus is a half brother to Widden Stud’s Blue Diamond winner, Star Witness and is from the Lion Hunter mare, Leone Chiara.
Interestingly, Leone Chiara won the 2006 RN Irwin Stakes which should have made Nostradamus something of an omen bet for Saturday.
