Champion stayer Americain , set to stand his first American breeding season at Kentucky's Calumet Farm in 2013, will also mark his first Australian season at Swettenham Stud, it was announced Jan. 10.
Kevin and Colleen Bamford and Gerry and Val Ryan, who raced the son of Dynaformer in partnership, this week signed off on an agreement to stand Americain at Swettenham's base in Nagambie, Victoria for the 2013 Southern Hemisphere breeding season.
The 2010 Emirates Melbourne Cup (Aus-I) winner will stand at a fee of $12,500 plus GST (Goods and Services Tax).
"Americain is a superior stayer who possesses a sensational turn of foot and it is an honor for Swettenham Stud to be selected as the home for his debut Australian season," said Swettenham Stud's Adam Sangster in a statement. "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."
After winning the Melbourne Cup, Americain ran fourth in the race in 2011 and finished out of the money last year in what was his final start.
"Americain is out of the Arazi mare America and has duplicated open lines to Plucky Liege, Blossom Time, and Sierra in a similar but slightly stronger genetic pattern to the recent English Derby (Eng-I) winner New Approach, who is one of the world's hottest young stallions," Kevin Bamford said.
Americain will stand at Calumet Farm for a fee of US$20,000.
The owners are offering a limited number of lifetime breeding rights on a first-come-first-served basis.
