Melbourne Cup winner Americain will serve his first Australian breeding season this year at Adam Sangster’s Swettenham Stud at Nagambie in Victoria.
Americain will stand at Swettenham Stud for his first Australian breeding season. Photo by: Taron Clarke.
Americain was retired after finishing eleventh to Green Moon in his third Melbourne Cup appearance last year after taking out the 2010 Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington as well as running fourth to Dunadenin 2011.
Kevin and Colleen Bamford and Gerry and Val Ryan, who raced the son of Dynaformer in partnership are hoping breeders will take advantage of Americain’s first class pedigree as well as his winning staying performances on the racetrack.
“We are all staunch supporters of the Victorian breeding industry and are delighted that we have been able to come to an arrangement that will see Americain return to Victoria for his first Australian breeding season,” Kevin Bamford and Gerry Ryan said in a joint statement.
“We look forward to seeing him make an impression and are excited about the prospect of racing some of his progeny in the years to come.”
Swettenham Stud came to the forefront to secure the services of Americain after there was strong competition from some of the high-profile New South Wales Studs.
“Americain is not only a striking individual, he boasts amazing bloodlines and we look forward to helping Australasian breeders achieve the ultimate in breeding a Melbourne Cup winner,” Swettenham Stud’s Adam Sangster said.
“Americain is a superior stayer who possesses a sensational turn of foot and it is an honour for Swettenham Stud to be selected as the home for his debut Australian season,”
“There was significant competition from high-profile studs in New South Wales in the race to secure Americain and his presence will be an asset for the Victorian breeding industry.”
Apart from being remembered as the 2010 Melbourne Cup winner, Americain also picked up several Group races at his three Melbourne Spring Carnival appearances including the Group 3 $225,000 Centrebet Geelong Cup (2400m) at Geelong prior to winning the Melbourne Cup.
And in 2011 the eight year old stallion won at Group 2 level either side of his Melbourne Cup fourth, taking out the $250,000 Drake International Cup (2500m) at Moonee Valley, formerly the Moonee Valley Cup and the $350,000 Zipping Classic (2400m) at Sandown.
Americain also raced in Australia in the Autumn of 2012 and although he didn’t collect a winner’s cheque, performed creditably with a third to Manighar in the Group 1 $1m Darley Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 10 and a second again to Manighar in the Group 1 $2.25m The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill on April 7.
And Americain was also well performed overseas with Group 2 wins in Europe as well running third to Mastery in the 2010 Group 1 HK$14 The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase (2400m) at Sha Tin.
The Emirates Melbourne Cup winner will stand at a fee of $12,500 plus GST at his first season at stud in Australia and will stand his first American breeding season at Kentucky’s esteemed Calumet Farm where he will stand at a fee of US$20,000.
