Imposing stallion Primus is heading back to Victoria.
After a stint in Queensland the son of Flying Spur will be the foundation stallion at the newly established Stonehurst Farm at Euroa.
"We are delighted to welcome Primus back to Victoria," said owner Justin Lovatt who has enjoyed good success with Primus' progeny.
Each of the Primus' Lovatt has bred and raced have displayed above average ability, leading him to chase up the 12-year-old.
"Primus has been such a
good horse to us and most of his good progeny are racing in Victoria so it just
seemed right to bring him back."
Lovatt bred Primus' first winner, the talented Apollo Creed who sadly did not reach his full potential due to injury.
But what great natural talent he showed, at two breaking his maiden at Seymour by a stunning 4 1/4 lengths before an even more impressive two length victory at Flemington.
"I will never forget that day," Lovatt said, "there were $400,000 yearlings in that race and he blitzed them!"
Lovatt also bred the Warrnambool carnival bound Burning Front who has been such a great horse for connections winning four and missing a placing only once in his last seven starts for the Darren Weir (the most successful trainer of the Primus breed) stable.
Primus is also the sire of the promising three-year-old Rooboy who has shown plenty of heart winning his last two - stepping quickly up in class from a 3 1/4 Donald maiden victory to city company - leading throughout in a 1600m contest at Sandown on Easter Monday.
The first Port Lincoln trained horse to win at metropolitan level in Melbourne, Rooboy was involved in a float accident on his way home but trainer Darryl Carrison was relieved that the horse suffered only superficial injuries and he is looking forward to contesting Flemington races with the big-striding bay.
Jarrvis is another in-form son of Primus, the Colin & Cindy Alderson trained four-year-old winning his last two in determined fashion - his most recent success coming at Bendigo on Friday.
Also the sire of metropolitan winners Firestorm and Primitive Man, Primus was a high class racehorse denied of Group One success by injury.
Considered by trainer John O'Shea a leading Brisbane carnival contender, Primus was injured in the lead-up to the Stradbroke Handicap.
"I thought that with natural improvement after racing Primus was going to prove very hard to beat in the Stradbroke," O'Shea said at the time.
"Being a four year old entire he takes a lot of work to reach an optimum level of fitness. He was nearing his peak and was working as well as ever. He was suited to the Stradbroke and it's a shame he won't get the chance to sign off with a with a Group One win."
"I've never had a doubt he was Group One class and his record only confirms that."
A debut winner at Canterbury, Primus rose quickly in grade and at only his third outing raced away to an easy victory in the Listed Ming Dynasty Quality at Randwick.
Subsequently second in the Gr.2 Stan Fox Stakes and third in the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas continued to perform consistently at the top end - unplaced only once in five starts as an autumn three-year-old and that was a close-up fourth in the Gr.1 AJC Derby.
Placed in two of Sydney's Gr.1 Classics, the Randwick Guineas and the Rosehill Guineas, Primus went right on with it at four winning the Listed Show County Quality first up and two weeks the Gr.3 Tramway Handicap.
"He did that easy," said jockey Hugh Bowman after the Tramway - "he is a quality horse and a pleasure to ride."
O'Shea was always a Primus fan, describing him as "an amazing type with a great turn of foot."
A regally bred stallion by Danehill's Golden Slipper winner Flying Spur, Primus hails from Australia's most prolific Group One family with his third dam being the wonderful mare Denise's Joy.
The winner of five races now run at Group One level - the VRC Oaks, the Underwood Stakes, the Turnbull Stakes, the WA Derby and the Queensland Oaks - Denise's Joy is one of the great Australian matriarchs.
The dam of Queensland Oaks heroine Joie Denise, Denise's Joy is ancestress of the big race winners More Joyous, Sunday Joy, Tuesday Joy, Miss Danehill, Euphoria, Arlington Road, Sterling City, Thorn Park, Bentley Biscuit, Joie de Grise and recent Vinery Stud Stakes winner Fenway.
"Primus is by a champion stallion from an outstanding family and he has plenty to offer owner/breeders," said Lovatt.
For further information on Primus - a great Super Vobis and Vobis Gold candidate - who stands for $2200 (incl gst) contact Justin Lovatt 0416 063 873 (justinjlovatt@live.com) or Anne Richardson (annerichardson275@hotmail.com) 0425 859 407.
