Believe it or not, the first of the 2009 foal crop will be born before the end of the month. The new breeding season is almost upon us and the team at Riverdene Stud, as a group, cannot wait to see what unfolds…

The first Riverdene Stud conceived offspring of ENEMY OF AVERAGE will be delivered over the coming months and should be greeted with great excitement.

ENEMY OF AVERAGE covered in excess of 130 mares in 2008, a figure which not only illustrates the belief we have in the son of Fusaichi Pegasus (USA), but also the resounding nature with which he was received by our valued clients.

The fact that ENEMY OF AVERAGE is a half-brother to Exceed And Excel provided good reason to support the juvenile stakes winner. Of course, nothing to have eventuated in the interim should have detracted from that resounding vote of confidence.

With the 2008/09 racing season rapidly drawing to a close, Exceed And Excel holds an unassailable lead in the Leading Second Season Sire standings. At this stage, 128 runners have yielded 55 individual winners and returned progeny earnings in excess of $3 million. In addition, Exceed And Excel boasts eight stakes winners of 10 black-type events, a statistic which possibly best reflects his standing among the most commercial stallions of Australia.

All things considered, there are many positive aspects about ENEMY OF AVERAGE’s past year at stud —both directly and otherwise.

The first crop of SEIDNAZAR turn 2 years of age at the end of the month and will soon be given their first test as a racehorse.

SEIDNAZAR covered over 90 mares in his first season at stud, returning 92 percent fertility. The first of these are already going through their first preparation and could well be among the first juveniles of 2009/10 to make an appearance.

Indeed, at this relatively early stage of proceedings, no fewer than 10 first crop SEIDNAZAR progeny have been named. Usually, this is regarded as a very positive sign, indicating that these youngsters are at a relatively advanced stage of their development.

All here at Riverdene Stud will be keenly following the progress of Incremental, Smash ‘N’ Dash, Mighty Field, Country Hope, Biscazar, Ourghendi, Natural Jester, Bet’N’Keegan, Mosh Kalimnah and Solo Kalimnah. They should be the first of the breed to make their mark.

Pedigree of the Month: Miss Synchronicity

The win of Miss Synchronicity in a 2-year-old event staged on the recent Saturday program of Hawkesbury Race Club was very much a Riverdene Stud affair. By the resident stallion HALF HENNESSY, the youngster was produced by the MARWINA mare Romanticas.

Already infused with Star Kingdom (Ire) blood through Blazing Saddles and Todman in HALF HENNESSY’s make-up, Miss Synchronicity also carries an additional shot of the immortal stallion with MARWINA being a very noteworthy son of Marscay and grandson of Biscay.

Decades after their dominance of Australian racing, Star Kingdom (Ire) and countless members of his dynasty remain huge influences on domestic racing today. It is worth noting that June winners by ARMIDALE, HALF HENNESSY, HIGH ROLLING, ZARIZ and even MARWINA himself were out of mares by Star Kingdom-line stallions.

Of course, Miss Synchronicity also carries two strains of another very great stallion in the form of Northern Dancer. Firstly, through his immediate sireline via Hennessy (USA)-Storm Cat-Storm Bird, and secondly, through the imported Vice Regent stallion Archregent (Can).

The presence of Archregent (Can) in this tabulation is worth bearing in mind as this particular stallion pops-up in the pedigree of a very significant racehorse of recent time. He just happens to be the damsire of Takeover Target, too.