The stud’s annual brochure has been produced for another year and is currently winging its way to Riverdene Stud clients in preparation for the 2009 breeding season. Besides introducing our new horse Bon Hoffa, the publication provides updates concerning all aspects of our resident sires, the most relevant information including…

The career of BON HOFFA is easily recalled through his highly memorable victories, but our first season sire for 2009 is also a very notable acquisition considering his thoroughly commendable placings.

Scrutiny of his race record reveals that BON HOFFA not only beat Group 1 winners Niconero, Wonderful World, Divine Madonna, Orange County, Anamato, Undue, Swick, Let Go Thommo, Valedictum and Serious Speed in his major victories, but also Red Dazzler in his placing in the Group 2 VRC Blamey Stakes.

In fact, only one horse finished in front of BON HOFFA in both the Blamey and Group 2 MRC T.S. Carlyon Stakes: Apache Cat!

All things considered, BON HOFFA mixed it with the very best during his racing career, a point his complete race record reveals in full.

With his oldest progeny yet to turn four, ENEMY OF AVERAGE’s half-brother Exceed And Excel is already the sire of 20-plus stakes horses.

Of course, one of the major selling points of ENEMY OF AVERAGE is the fact that he is a half-brother to Exceed And Excel, and we make no apologies for stressing this fact in this year’s brochure.

The best runners to date for this highly fashionable stallion are recent Group 1 MRC Blue Diamond Stakes winner Reward For Effort, and Wilander, Darley’s Group 2 winning sprinter.
ENEMY OF AVERAGE stands his second season at Riverdene Stud later this year after covering 134 mares in 2008.

The pedigree of HALF HENNESSY continues to thrive and has had a couple of important updates since last year.

Firstly, close relation Pillar of Hercules added a Group 1 placing to his already impressive record when running third in the MRC Toorak Handicap last spring.

Also, the Peter Snowden-trained 3-year-old filly Yesterday became yet another stakes winner in the family when landing a Listed event at Sandown late in 2008.

Few pedigree experts will dispute that the female family of HALF HENNESSY is one of the finest in the Australian Stud Book. Second-dam Donna Nook (GB) is one of the great matriarchs of modern-day thoroughbred breeding and heads a family that continues to go from strength to strength.

Certainly, with so many outstanding females on the catalogue page, HALF HENNESSY’s bloodlines can only prosper and stands breeders who utilise males from the lineage in particularly good stead.

On the topic of HALF HENNESSY, both Hangover Henry and Lavished acquitted themselves well during the Wagga Cup Carnival and look to have their foot on the till.

Hangover Henry, in particular, looked a picture of health and was most unlucky in finishing just behind the placings in the Wagga Guineas.

Lavished also looked in very good order and only just missed out on a place. She can certainly be placed to effect over the coming weeks.

Just for the record, the collective progeny earnings for MARWINA are now well in excess of $10 million.

The latest figures quoted for the son of Marscay include 280 individual winners at 60% winners-to-runners.

It is a record that speaks for itself.

The first yearling crop of SEIDNAZAR has been to the sales with the progeny of the stallion finding some very good homes.

Offspring of the Rory’s Jester stallion have been offered as far south as Tasmania and as far north as Rockhampton, with one of his Lots fetching $35,000 at the Capricorn Yearling Sale staged last month.

Some of Australia’s leading trainers have also been given SEIDNAZAR offspring to train, ensuring that the breed is afforded every chance in its first juvenile season.

ZARIZ is now accredited with no fewer than 60 individual winners.

The past 12 months have witnessed ZARIZ become a consistent sire of winners in numerous forms of competition.