The first-hand viewings at Lime Country Thoroughbreds left all concerned impressed by what they saw and fuelled excitement for upcoming foalings.
"It's great to get the first few on the ground and see Niagara leaving the same
bay colour and all with a bit of white so far," Greg Griffin said.
"Niagara is a big, impressive looking horse and a number of the first foals born are to smaller mares or maidens, so to see the leg, muscle and bone he has thrown is very encouraging.
"He was a A$620,000 yearling himself, you don't get those sort of prices in Australia without being a forward, precocious, standout-type of yearling and it looks like these foals have picked up plenty of those attributes."
While there is a general feeling that many stallions will struggle for numbers this season, Niagara has bucked the trend with bookings in advance of the same time last year and he is likely to again cover a book of more than 100.
"Astute breeders have noticed that his sire Encosta de Lago sired the NZ Champion 3YO of 2013 with Puccini as well the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year in Costa Viva," Griffin said.
"A huge result for any stallion and remarkable considering he only had seven three-year-old runners in New Zealand for that season."
Encosta de Lago also managed to have highest Timeform Rated two-year-old colt in Australia in Niagara's close relation Rubick. It has been a stellar year for a stallion, who has now sired 103 stakes winners, 209 black type horses, 23 Group One winners and the winners of over $139 million in prize money worldwide.
Additionally, Redoute's Choice who shares the same female family as Niagara, has just taken out his third Australian General Sires' Premiership.
"Redoute's is the only active sire in Australia to have won the title more than twice (2006, 2010 and 2014)," Griffin said.
"To have both these current powerhouse sires melded into Niagara's pedigree from a sire and a dam perspective has clearly been a contributing factor to his popularity this year and the foals we have on the ground can only add to the confidence surrounding him again this year."
"Niagara is a big, impressive looking horse and a number of the first foals born are to smaller mares or maidens, so to see the leg, muscle and bone he has thrown is very encouraging.
"He was a A$620,000 yearling himself, you don't get those sort of prices in Australia without being a forward, precocious, standout-type of yearling and it looks like these foals have picked up plenty of those attributes."
While there is a general feeling that many stallions will struggle for numbers this season, Niagara has bucked the trend with bookings in advance of the same time last year and he is likely to again cover a book of more than 100.
"Astute breeders have noticed that his sire Encosta de Lago sired the NZ Champion 3YO of 2013 with Puccini as well the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year in Costa Viva," Griffin said.
"A huge result for any stallion and remarkable considering he only had seven three-year-old runners in New Zealand for that season."
Encosta de Lago also managed to have highest Timeform Rated two-year-old colt in Australia in Niagara's close relation Rubick. It has been a stellar year for a stallion, who has now sired 103 stakes winners, 209 black type horses, 23 Group One winners and the winners of over $139 million in prize money worldwide.
Additionally, Redoute's Choice who shares the same female family as Niagara, has just taken out his third Australian General Sires' Premiership.
"Redoute's is the only active sire in Australia to have won the title more than twice (2006, 2010 and 2014)," Griffin said.
"To have both these current powerhouse sires melded into Niagara's pedigree from a sire and a dam perspective has clearly been a contributing factor to his popularity this year and the foals we have on the ground can only add to the confidence surrounding him again this year."
News from Lime Country Thoroughbreds
