In addition to wishing all Riverdene Stud clients and associates our very best wishes for 2010, we can report that the New Year has commenced in a pretty positive fashion. Hopefully the momentum will continue unabated…

Sydney-trained Derippa has been racing with prominence for our freshman sire SEIDNAZAR, providing some very encouraging signs for the breed.

After a very promising front-running display when finishing third at Rosehill Gardens on debut, Derippa was taken to Kembla Grange by trainer Mark Wallace for what was expected to be the breed’s first race victory.

Unfortunately for the connections of Derippa and the supporters of SEIDNAZAR, a star member of the Gai Waterhouse stable by the name of My Amelia was ineligible for the Sydney metropolitan 2-year-old event staged on the same day and ventured to Kembla Grange too.

Sent out the 4-15 favourite of the contest, My Amelia needed to produce all of the promise she had previously displayed at home to relegate Derippa into second place — beaten by just one length!

With only a handful of SEIDNAZAR’s first runners seen in competition so far this season, Derippa has been responsible for some encouraging displays, setting the benchmark.

On what we have seen, the youngster is by no means lacking in natural speed and can be expected to open up his winning account at some stage in the very near future.

As previously revealed in the December newsletter, offspring of SEIDNAZAR are a feature element of our 2010 Sydney Classic Yearling Sale draft. Four strong colts can be found among our 10-strong consignment heading to the Newmarket sales facility of William Inglis & Son in the final week of January.

Our 2010 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sales draft has a distinctly different composition, with the consignment being made-up of progeny foaled from mares purchased at auction in 2008.

Naturally, the selection inevitably involves stallions standing at a variety of other different studs, including Strada (Widden), Domesday (Darley), Charge Forward (Arrowfield), Al Maher (Emirates Park) and Benicio (Vinery). The respective mares have since been put to resident Riverdene Stud sires.

It is important that clients realise that our Melbourne Premier Yearling Sales draft is not a reflection of how Riverdene Stud is supporting its own sires, but an indication of how we continue to upgrade the quality of our breeding stock with the best interest of our roster first and foremost in mind.

The first Riverdene Stud-bred crop of ENEMY OF AVERAGE is generally pleasing all concerned with the eldest members already being weaned.
As a rule, ENEMY OF AVERAGE has stamped his offspring particularly well.

The vast majority in our care are very well put together, boasting impressive physical attributes and exceptionally good temperaments.

Notably, most of ENEMY OF AVERAGE’s 2009 foals have the conformation of a sprinter, though their maleline pedigree influences should see them getting over further.

The most encouraging sign of all is that the first of them have been little trouble weaning and possess a disposition that should serve them well during a racing career.