2013 Cox Plate winner Shamus Award has been retired from racing and will stand at Widden Stud for the 2014 breeding season.
Shamus Award became the first horse in history to win the Australian Guineas after winning the Cox Plate the previous year. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Shamus Award made history by becoming the first horse in history to break their maiden by winning the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) with a brave front-running victory over Happy Trails and Fiorente and proved that performance was no fluke when he won the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) during the 2014 Melbourne Festival Of Racing.
Widden Stud Owner Antony Johnson revealed yesterday that his stud had acquired the services of Shamus Award and the son of Snitzel will make his debut at stud, alongside Zoustar, with a service fee of $27,500.
“We are privileged to be able to offer breeders a sale-topping, Cox Plate winning 3yo that is by one of the country’s hottest sires,” Johnson said in a statement.
“A multiple Group performer at Two from a 1000m and a dual Group 1 winner at Three, Shamus Award is one of those rare athletes that can combine brillant speed & heartbreaking stamina when required.
“Shamus Award is the first 3yo ever to win the Cox Plate / Australian Guineas double and we are thrilled to have him join our roster alongside our other new addition, the brilliant dual Group I winning sprinter Zoustar who also made history as the first 3yo to win the Gr1 Golden Rose / Coolmore Stud Stakes double.
“To be honest, it feels a little like déjà vu, starting off two young stallions together that we believe are the best sire prospects in the land.
“We did it a few years ago with Sebring and Northern Meteor, which proved incredibly successful, so I had no hesitation in seizing the opportunity to do the same again this year.”
Trainer Danny O’Brien said during the 2014 Autumn Racing Carnival that he was hoping to win back-to-back Cox Plates with Shamus Award and admitted that he was disappointed that the two-time Group 1 winner will no longer be a part of his stable, but said that he was extremely proud of what the colt had achieved in his short racing career.
“I am very proud of what we achieved with this magnificent individual,” O’Brien said.
“He has done what no other 3yo has done before by winning the Australian Guineas after winning the Cox Plate and to lead all the way in both races makes this achievement even more incredible.
“He has a rare determination you don’t often see and I will be sending mares to him hoping his progeny inherit these traits.”
Shamus Award finishes his racing career with only two wins from 14 race starts, but accumulated almost $2.5 million in prizemoney.
