IN THE NEWS: Under The Radar: 'He was always a bit of a star'
Written by Kristen Manning | TTR Australia & New Zealand
It is one of the great anomalies of thoroughbred breeding that the quality of a stallion’s progeny can vary season by season; that a well-performed, well-related horse can have an ordinary crop followed by an outstanding one or vice versa.
Not that Astern’s debut crop results were ordinary but there is no doubt that his smaller second group of runners were superior. Retiring to stud in 2017 (his oldest crop currently five), Astern had 87 of his first horses making the track with 54 (62 per cent) of those being winners - the best of those being the triple Group winner Seradess and the Listed winner Danger Strykes.
Superior in strike rate and quality
Overall, at the time of writing, Astern has been represented by 199 winners from 335 runners with 13 stakes winners. He has progeny earnings in excess of $26 million with average starter earnings of $49,374.
He has shuttled to Jonabell Farm, Kentucky where he has done a good job with six of his 65 US runners from 116 runners being stakes winners including the G2 Miss Grillo S. winner Sail By (USA).
10 of his stakes winners including Golden Mile are out of mares with Mr Prospector (USA) presence which is interesting considering that Astern’s pedigree is heavily influenced by that great stallion’s ancestress Frizette (USA) (Hamburg {USA}) courtesy of strains of Djeddah (Fr), Bailjumper (USA), Jet Pilot (USA), Lomond (USA) and Roan Rocket (Ire).
Golden Mile winning the G1 Caufield Guineas
Standing last season at $22,000 and this year at $16,500, Astern is a horse who - thanks to those increased numbers in 2021 and 2022 - has the best ahead of him with Alastair Pulford confident that Godolphin have zeroed on the right type of mares to send to him.
“He can sire a good horse out of a mare with stamina but we have found that mares with speed and substance suit him best.”
Such as the dams of Golden Mile and Aft Cabin - both fast daughters of Lonhro.
“When he retired to stud people thought he had thrown more to (his dam sire) Exceed And Excel but as he let down there is a lot more of Medaglia d’Oro about him,” Pulford said, recalling that Astern caught the eye early.
Always a bit of a star
“He was a beautiful horse from when he was born and John O’Shea absolutely loved him from day one - he was always a bit of a star.”
With his excellent race record, Astern was well supported in his debut year at a fee of $38,500 but Pulford is at a loss to explain why his first progeny did not quite live up to expectations.
“I don’t know the answer as to why some stallions do this, I wish I did - we all do!”
Pulford points to the star stallion Street Cry (Ire) as an example of the vagaries of crops - “his first Australian crop did nothing!” he said, pointing out that in the same year - 2004 - his American progeny included “a host of champions” including Zenyatta (USA), Street Sense (USA) and Street Boss (USA).
Street Cry’s second Australian crop were a different story - born that year the likes of Shocking and Whobegotyou.
“I am not saying that Astern is going to turn into a Street Cry,” Pulford said, “but it does go to show how a stallion’s career can change.”
Astern
“If Astern’s first crop had done what his second crop did he’d be in a very different place in the market - he would not be flying under the radar!”
“Market forces and injury” were the reason has a couple of smaller crops coming through but Pulford can see more happening for Astern who he thinks at his current fee is a good opportunity.
“He is a terrific horse for owner/breeders and if you send the right mare he can also provide you with a commercial type.”
Overall, at the time of writing, Astern has been represented by 199 winners from 335 runners with 13 stakes winners. He has progeny earnings in excess of $26 million with average starter earnings of $49,374.
He has shuttled to Jonabell Farm, Kentucky where he has done a good job with six of his 65 US runners from 116 runners being stakes winners including the G2 Miss Grillo S. winner Sail By (USA).
10 of his stakes winners including Golden Mile are out of mares with Mr Prospector (USA) presence which is interesting considering that Astern’s pedigree is heavily influenced by that great stallion’s ancestress Frizette (USA) (Hamburg {USA}) courtesy of strains of Djeddah (Fr), Bailjumper (USA), Jet Pilot (USA), Lomond (USA) and Roan Rocket (Ire).
Hitting the track running
Having won a Rosehill trial, the Godolphin homebred was right in the market when making his debut at Randwick in December 2015 and despite racing greenly Astern was able to prove 2.5l too good for his rivals.
He again did a few things wrong at his second start in the G2 Silver Slipper S. the following February where he showed good heart - kicking strongly when challenged by Defcon who had run second in the G3 Canonbury S. at his previous start and who would win the G3 Black Opal S. at his subsequent outing.
“He is getting through his gears and he is a quality colt,” trainer John O’Shea said to the media on the day - “he is learning his trade as he goes along.”
Astern winning the G2 Silver Slipper Stakes
Jockey Hugh Bowman was also impressed, noting that “I knew I had a bit in the tank but what I loved was his response when he was challenged - and I can only see him improving on today.”
On the strength of that promising form Astern was amongst the better fancies in the G1 Golden Slipper S. but his chances were compromised when he drew the outside gate of 16 and having to work early out wide took its toll and he was out of the placings in the race.
Losing no fans with that effort and despite again drawing the widest gate, Astern was sent out favourite in the G3 Kindergarten S. in which again he had to do a bit of work - but he finished off strongly to share first prize with El Divino (Snitzel).
“He had no luck in the Golden Slipper and no luck at all today,” John O’Shea reported, “but he still got the job done. There was plenty of merit in that run, he’s come a long way in his first preparation.”
All the better at three
Given a bit of time, Astern reappeared at three - finding early trouble first-up in the G2 Run To The Rose but proving too strong for the favourite Star Turn.
A determined win that had jockey James McDonald enraptured - “you only have to watch it to see how good he is. He’s the king of the castle, he’s the real deal.”
That win saw him start favourite in the G1 Golden Rose and yet another tricky wide gate did not deter him, the bay getting clear from the 200 metres and adding his name to an honour roll that includes the successful stallions Flying Spur and Zoustar.
McDonald was again happy, describing Astern as “an absolute ripper.”
Charging home late for a G2 Roman Consul S. second splitting Russian Revolution and Capitalist at his next start, Astern again took on the best of that spring’s 3-year-olds and was a game G1 Coolmore Stud S. second - beaten by Flying Artie with Star Turn, Russian Revolution and Extreme Choice behind him.
Astern winning the G1 Golden Rose
Striking heavy going when for only the second time finishing outside the quinella - unplaced behind Chautauqua (Encosta De Lago) when taking on the older horses in the G1 TJ Smith S. - Astern was retired to stud.
And with a nice record - nine starts, five wins, two seconds and over $1.1 million in stakes.
A member of his sire’s third Australian crop, Astern is one of the highly successful shuttler Medaglia d’Oro’s 178 stakes winners and 26 Group 1 winners. 28 of his stakes winners enjoyed that success in Australia with another four of his elite-level winners bred here.
Including his best son, the Hong Kong star Golden Sixty - the world’s highest every prizemoney earning horse.
