SHARKBITE RELOCATES TO ELIZA PARK

The impending sale of Byerley Stud in the Hunter Valley has resulted in a change of location for Sharkbite, the promising young Redoute’s Choice sire, who will be switched to Victoria for the 2010 breeding season.
Eliza Park will stand the stakes-winning son of Redoute’s Choice at a fee of $5,500 inc. GST in conjunction with the stallion’s shareholders Jonathan Munz and Debbie and Joe Throsby.
“With the phenomenal success of sons of Redoute’s Choice at stud, Eliza Park was quick to snap up the opportunity to stand Sharkbite, who is one of only two stakeswinning sons of Redoute’s Choice at stud in Victoria” said Eliza Park Chief Executive, Cameron Croucher.
“There is no doubting the potential of the Redoute’s Choice sire dynasty and he has the runs on the board.
“We are very confident about God’s Own and Sharkbite gives us another son of Redoutes who was also a stakeswinner in Melbourne and a genuinely talented racehorse.
“He is a smashing type with an incredible pedigree and cost $900,000 as a yearling. There would actually be no surprise if Sharkbite ends up as the dominant son of Redoutes rather than some of his higher priced brothers. At $5,500 inc. GST he is great value.
“Sharkbite’s stud career got off to a flying start in his first season last year, with strong support from Jonathan and the Throsbys, as well as outside breeders. They have firmly committed to supporting him again with an outstanding group of mares, including stakeswinners, dams of stakeswinners and close relations to stakeswinners. Of course, the Throsbys have already enjoyed incredible stallion success as the initial shareholders of Encosta de Lago which started his stud career at a fee of $8500.”
A $900,000 purchase from the 2005 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock on behalf of Jonathan Munz’s Pinecliff Racing Syndicate, Sharkbite was a magnificent yearling that showed untapped ability as a two year-old.
Despite being troubled by persistent shin-soreness, the talented colt won his first two starts in brilliant fashion for Rodney Douglas as a late two year-old, before finishing second to champion three year-old Haradasun in the Listed MRC Vain Stakes over 1100 metres at just his third start in a race.
Placed twice more in Group Three company during the spring, including a third to the Caulfield Guineas hero Wonderful World, Sharkbite was considered a colt of genuine Group One potential and as such was transferred to the stables of David Hayes.
Sadly, Sharkbite failed to find form for his new trainer in the autumn after suffering a back injury and was subsequently returned to Rodney Douglas with happy results all round.
Sharkbite won three of his next five starts for Douglas including a sizzling win over the straight 1200 metres at Flemington on Cup Day and a powerful victory in the Listed MRC Lord Stakes over 1700m at Caulfield, retiring with the record of five wins and five placings from 23 starts with prizemoney of $292,000.
Sharkbite has a sensational stallion pedigree, being from the Juddmonte Farms bred mare Back Pass (USA), a half-sister by Quest for Fame to Group Two winner Three Valleys from the family of freakishly good producer Hasili.
For those unfamiliar with Hasili, she is the Northern Hemisphere version of Eight Carat (GB) as the dam of an amazing five Group One winners in Banks Hill, Intercontinental, Heat Haze, Cacique and Champs Elysees, while her Group Two winning son Dansili is one of the best stallions in Europe.
In the 12 months since Sharkbite was initially retired to stud, his own sire Redoute’s Choice has gone ahead in leaps and bounds as a sire of sires.
His son Stratum is now the leading freshman sire in Australia, siring the 2010 Golden Slipper winner, Crystal Lily, in his first crop, as well as other stakes horses.
Another son in Snitzel is not far behind with Group Two Silver Slipper winner Chance Bye in his first crop and other early 2YO winners.
Not A Single Doubt has stakes horses and was leading first season sire and other sons such as God’s Own, Bradbury’s Luck, Al Samer and even Marmottan are also making their mark.

For more information contact: David Somers 0428 440 330, Mark Lindsay 0416 334 338, Phil Marshall 0407 853 782 or info@elizapark.com.au