Retiring to stud at Kildangan Stud in Ireland in 2014, Epaulette sired four Stakes performers and 23 individual two-year-old winners from his initial crop, making him Ireland’s leading living freshman stallion.
Not to be outdone, his first Australian crop looks like it will be even better.
Already the sire of two Group performing juveniles, two more than any other first-season stallion, he has made one of the best starts at stud of any other stallion from the Danehill-sireline.
Epaulette's progeny sold well at Magic Millions in January averaging A$155,000 for his Book-One yearlings, the top price of $240,000 being paid for a filly from Icy Heels (Medaglia d'Oro) (pictured below), the half-sister to Listed Breeders’ Plate winner Law (Denman).
2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale - Lot 818: Epaulette x Icy Heels filly
He has 18 yearlings catalogued for the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, among them close relations to G1 winners Rain Affair, Divine Madonna, Appearance, Platelet, River Dove, Magari, Centaurea and Sky Cuddle.
One who has attracted plenty of attention is Lot 438 (pictured below), the colt from the Red Ransom mare Hewayaat consigned by Kooringal Stud, whose family includes the successful Australian stallions Snippets and Not A Single Doubt along with the G1 winners Rewaaya, Sense Of Occasion, the South African champion Ertijaal and his half-brother Mushreq, a stakes winner in Dubai and South Africa.
Another with an intriguing international pedigree is Lot 407 (pictured below), a filly from the winning Savabeel mare Fromelles, from the family of G1 Irish Oaks winner and G1 Epsom Oaks runner-up Regal Exception.
Lot 721, a filly from the winning mare Faith In My (Savabeel) is another with a strong international pedigree.
The filly’s third dam Spectacular Gift (Alleged) is a half-sister to the G1 Kentucky Derby and G1 Preakness Stakes winner and US Horse of the Year Spectacular Bid (Bold Bidder).
