Thursday, 18 August 2011: Famous breeder Percy Miller was a king among Australian breeders for nearly 40 years in the first half of last century when he ruled over Kia Ora Stud in the Segenhoe Valley near Scone.
 | Igugu
Photo by Liesl King | |
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He would be very pleased by the success of the latest international star to come off the stud, one owned by Malaysian tycoon Ananda Krishnan and now rated among the best thoroughbreds to race in South Africa.
Produced from one of Kia Ora's own mares, she is the 4YO mare Igugu, who last week was crowned South African Horse of the Year for 2010-11 as well as Champion 3YO Filly and Middle Distance Performer.
Igugu is by the former
Coolmore Stud former shuttler and now European super sire Galileo (Sadler's Wells) from Zarina, an unraced Ireland bred daughter of the Red Ransom sire Intikhab.
The mare represents one of the Aga Khan's best families.
Another Australian product, the Encosta de Lago colt
Delago Deluxe, was named South African Champion 2YO.
Bred by Gerry Harvey, he is from Succeeding, a Flying Spur three-quarter sister to Vinery's fine young sire Excites (Danewin) and Tickets (Redoute's Choice) and half-sister to Duporth (Red Ransom).
They are all from the very good Success Express race mare Staging.
The South African Awards continued a stunning year overseas for the Australian horse.
Rocket Man, a son of the former Woodlands Stud sire Viscount (Quest For Fame) and a McGinty mare was crowned Singapore Horse of the Year and champion sprinter while veteran Hong Kong performer Sacred Kingdom, another son of Encosta de Lago, was named Hong Kong's best sprinter for the fourth time.
Rocket Man was bred by Dean Fleming on Tyreel Stud and Sacred Kingdom by the Calvert family, prominent Victorian breeders.
On top of these offshore honours, the Australian breed had a big year in New Zealand, taking out their three top sire titles.
Hunter Valley raised Thorn Park Pins (Snippets), both at stud in New Zealand, finished first and second on the General List on earnings, the Arrowfield based Charge Forward (Red Ransom) headed the juvenile list and the Century sire Centaine topped the broodmare sires list.
Centaine was also bred by Tyreel Stud.
Australian bred and based sires have led the NZ juvenile premiership in four of the past five years, Charge Forward being preceded by Show A Heart, General Nediym and Lucky Owners.
Pins, the runner up on the New Zealand General Sires List, gave Australia another overseas distinction by heading the Hong Kong sires list.
He is from the Segenhoe Stud bred No Finer, a daughter of Kaoru Star and Broodmare of the Year Humour.
OnN top of all this overseas successes was the honour for Australian bred Starspangledbanner, a son of yet another
Coolmore sire
Choisir, being ranked champion European sprinter for 2010.
He stood the 2011 northern hemisphere season at
Coolmore in Ireland and is now poised to look after an Australian book at their Hunter Valley stud.
Also flying the flag high for Australia in Europe is Exceed And Excel as one of the leading sires of juveniles.
The son of Danehill spends the northern hemisphere seasons at Dalham Hall Stud in England, receiving books of over 100 mares each year.
