Indygo Shiner, who is represented by four Argentine group I winners this year, will stand the 2009 breeding season at John Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms near Lexington. The Kentucky-bred, 10-year-old son of A.P. Indy will stand for $7,500. He was sent to Argentina for stallion duty in 2003.
According to a farm press release, Indygo Shiner is the only horse in modern Argentine history to sire both an Argentine Derby and Oaks winner in the same year. Indygo Shiner’s son, Tecla Shiner, captured the Nacional-Argentine Derby (Arg-I), and a daughter, Miss Match, won the Seleccion-Argentine Oaks (Arg-I).
Indygo Shiner’s classic connection extends further. Indygo Shiner also is the sire of Mi Amiguito, winner of the classic Polla de Potrillos-Argentina Two Thousand Guineas (Arg-I) and third in the Nacional. His other stakes winners this year include group I winner Garatero. Overall, Indygo Shiner is represented by seven group winners from his first two crops.
“Indygo Shiner is the product of two of the world’s leading breeders in Lane’s End and Juddmonte Farms,” said Hill ‘n’ Dale owner John Sikura.
A.P. Indy stands at William S. Farish’s Lane’s End Farm near Versailles, Ky., and Indygo Shiner’s dam, Navarra (by El Gran Senor), was bred by Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farms, located near Lexington.
“He is by the most important sire and emerging sire of sires in North America,” Sikura said about A.P. Indy. “His (Indygo Shiner’s) female family is impeccable, as he is out of Navarra, a graded stakes-winning full sister to Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Toussaud.
“His success in Argentina has been unparalleled as he is currently the leading sire with just two crops to race. Indygo Shiner offers breeders a great opportunity to breed to a leading sire that has the potential to become an important sire in North America. He is a stunning individual that hails from one of the greatest pedigrees in the stud book.”
Bred by Summer Wind Farm, Indygo Shiner raced in North America, winning or placing in four graded stakes. He finished first or second in seven of 12 starts and earned $444,066. Summer Wind has retained a 25% interest in the horse.