The new year has begun with a good deal of promise and we look forward to finally closing the dark chapter that was Equine Influenza. Indeed, with the summer-autumn carnivals of Melbourne and Sydney taking shape nicely and the 2008 yearling sales series soon upon us, there is much too look forward to in the coming the months…

Hangover Henry may not have broken through for the maiden success of the HALF HENNESSY breed during his recent campaign, but he did more than enough in his three metropolitan outings to suggest that he and his siblings have a bright future.

Most noticeable when running on strongly to place at both Randwick and Rosehill, Hangover Henry undoubtedly put the writing on the wall for a future city win before season’s end.

Indeed, it is worth pointing out that Hangover Henry finished alongside Over The Wicket in one of his placings, and that youngster has since gone on to win in town.

All things considered, Hangover Henry did more than enough to suggest that he should prove a prominent performer for the HALF HENNESSY breed and a good moneyspinner for his connections.

For the record, Hangover Henry’s $18,100 in earnings places HALF HENNESSY in the top-15 of first season stallions of season 2007/08 with just three of his first crop 2-year-olds to race.

A daughter of JEUNE KING PRAWN is among the restricted number of 2-year-olds to have won an event staged in New South Wales this season.

A member of the stallion‘s second foal crop, Molly Cod was sent out the odds-on favourite of a Fillies & Mares Maiden event staged over 1200 metres at Tumut and came home a six and a half lengths winner.

Notably, Molly Cod not only had to deal with older rivals over a distance yet to be tackled by her metropolitan-raced contemporaries, but also a heavy track.

The juvenile filly was the second winner of 2007/08 for a stallion represented by just five runners this season.

The Riverdene Stud sales team begins a very busy month of March by heading off to Oaklands Junction, Victoria, for our first yearling sale engagement of 2008.

Scheduled for March 2-6, the Premier Yearling Sale staged by William Inglis & Son comprises 818 yearlings catalogued to be offered during four sessions held over five days.

Riverdene Stud’s entire draft are to go under the hammer on Day Four, a session which commences at 1.00pm of Thursday, March 6.

Within a few days of the Melbourne sale concluding, the Magic Millions 2008 Adelaide Yearling Sale takes place. Scheduled for March 10-12, Riverdene Stud has another nine youngsters to offer at a venue which has seen us conduct some very good business in recent years.

Indeed, last month’s newsletter highlighted the winning form of Testy, a horse sold by us at the 2007 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale for $21,000. The Testa Rossa filly posted wins at Cheltenham and Morphettville from as many starts during the first half of the current season.

Our March drafts include a healthy number of youngsters by resident stallions HALF HENNESSY and JEUNE KING PRAWN in particular, as well as offspring from the 2006 foal crop of ZARIZ and HIGH ROLLING.

There is also progeny by established stallions such as Umatilla (NZ), Nothin’ Leica Dane, Danasinga and Mossman, as well as the promising young stallions Tobougg (Ire), Noverre (USA) and King Charlemagne (USA).

Following the yearlings sales staged in Melbourne and Adelaide in March, our sales team is back on the road in April with engagements in Sydney and Dubbo, with Scone also on the agenda in May.

The Australian Stud Book is currently finalising all of its paperwork for season 2007 and recently confirmed covering figures for the Riverdene Stud stallions.

The four most commercial sires on our books proved to be HALF HENNESSY, ZARIZ, SEIDNAZAR and MARWINA, covering books of 103, 100, 96 and 61 respectively.

Following the events of 2007, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all broodmare owners for their valued support.