The month of December sees the stud dividing its time between the closing stages of the breeding season and preparation of the first yearling sale draft for early in the New Year. Our team is stretched in each and every direction over the coming weeks and we would very much appreciate all clients paying particular attention to the first item raised this month…

All broodmare owners making transportation arrangements for their bloodstock over the coming weeks are requested to give the stud at least 48 hours notice.

We believe that it is in everyone’s best interest that staff members are afforded ample opportunity to ensure the safe departure of all breeding stock. With so many mares (and foals) involved, the exercise takes considerable time and attention.

Your assistance will be greatly appreciated when it comes to all travel arrangements involving any horse leaving the property.

Another very busy breeding season is beginning to draw to a close. Though there are still a few weeks left of business to conduct, we can provisionally report that the 2009 breeding season has gone particularly well and a pleasing outcome can be anticipated.

With the exception of the unforeseeable circumstances that led to HALF HENNNESY’s untimely demise, the 2009 breeding season has passed relatively incident free. All other stallions on the stud roster have performed right up to expectations, with ENEMY OF AVERAGE and BON HOFFA proving to be great assets to the operation.

ENEMY OF AVERAGE has been responsible for another outstanding season this time around, following on from a 2008 breeding season during which he exceeded all expectations. This young stallion has proven to be immensely popular with the stud’s clients and he has rewarded very many them with a quality foal on the ground this season.

BON HOFFA, too, is well on the way to a more than satisfactory first season at stud. The Group 1 winning sprinter will cover close enough to a three-figure book and will not be lacking in numbers when his first crop takes to the track early on into the next decade.

The beginning of the 2010 yearling sales series witnesses Riverdene Stud heading back to our traditional outlet.

Following the release of the 2010 Sydney Classic Yearling Sale catalogue on the William Inglis & Son website, we can confirm that 10 of our most precocious colts foaled in 2008 will comprise our consignment for January 24-25 next year.

The Sydney Classic Yearling Sale has always been a very popular venue for trainers based in Sydney and surrounds, and it is not by coincidence that all of these colts have been selected for the two-day sale. The vast majority are relatively early foals, with a brown colt by Seidnazar from Birds of a Feather actually boasting a July 27 foaling date.

Furthermore, all but one is qualified for BOBS eligibility, which should make them an even more attractive proposition for potetnial buyers.

The Hong Kong International race meeting staged at Sha Tin on December 13 carries greater significance than normal for Riverdene Stud clients. This year’s International Sprint is being touted as the world championship decider for the division, attracting the very best field of short course horses in recent memory.

Needless to say, we are going for All Silent, the paternal half-brother to BON HOFFA. The son of Belong To Me (USA) was a revelation again this spring and has few peers among the local gallopers. There seems every chance he can master the world and prove an outstanding advertisement for the breed.

As this is the last newsletter of another year, the management and staff of Riverdene Stud would like to take this opportunity to extend our appreciation for your support during the course of 2009.

We close the year by wishing you all a very Safe & Merry Christmas, and look forward to dealing with all our clients once again in 2010.