Orientate to Shuttle to Australia

Arrowfield Stud will spark a new era in Australian breeding this year with the addition of three internationally renowned first-time shuttle stallions to its sire roster.

Arrowfield chairman John Messara described the acquisition of 2002 Eclipse Award-winning sprinter Orientate, champion South American sire Hussonet, and the renowned Japanese-based sire French Deputy as "a unique opportunity to broaden the breeding industry in Australia."

"The vitally important aspect of Hussonet and Orientate is they are totally free of Northern Dancer blood," Messara said. "They represent sire lines that will be very helpful to breeders in Australia, where Danzig blood is predominant.

"And French Deputy is the most valuable Japanese-based stallion to come to Australia and is proven on the international stage."

The acquisition of such a notable trio of stallions heightens the challenge Australian-owned Arrowfield is throwing down to international breeding giant Coolmore in the local stallion market.

Arrowfield acquired a 25% interest in 5-year-old Orientate. The remainder is owned by Graham J. Beck's Gainesway Farm. Campaigned by Robert and Beverly Lewis, Orientate (Mt. Livermore -- Dream Team, by Cox's Ridge) won the Napa Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) last October in his final start. He will begin his stallion career at Gainesway near Lexington.

Arrowfield signed an agreement with Japan's Shadai Stallion Station to shuttle French Deputy. Eleven-year-old French Deputy began his stud career at Three Chimneys Farm near Midway, Ky. He now stands at the Yoshida family's Shadai Stallion Station in Japan after being purchased in late 2000.

French Deputy's stud fee in Japan last season of ¥10m (approximately $150,000) is testament to his worldwide popularity. Following the death of Sunday Silence last summer, French Deputy and last year's Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner, War Emblem, are the highest-priced Shadai stallions in Japan. French Deputy (Deputy Minister -- Mitterand, by Hold Your Peace) will stand at Arrowfield for a fee of $44,000 (inc GST).

Arrowfield purchased 12-year-old Hussonet outright from his Chilean owners and the stallion will arrive at Arrowfield in early March after being in quarantine in California. Hussonet was stakes-placed in the U.S. and was sold to stand at Haras de Pirque in Chile.

Hussonet (Mr. Prospector -- Sacahuista, by Raja Baba) quickly stamped himself as an exceptionally dominant stallion, being named champion 2-year-old sire with his first crop in 1998 and going on to win the general sires title in every subsequent year. In 2002. he commanded the highest fee of any stallion ever to have stood in Chile and served the largest book (146 mares) of any commercial stallion standing in Chile.

His fee will be $24,750 (inc GST.)