Dr. Mark Wylie, Arrowfield's veterinarian, added: "He's not presenting any clinical signs of injury, but the ultrasound test does show the small tear has not yet repaired itself."One of the mares to miss a meeting with Redoute's Choice is the former phenomenon Sunline. She was booked to be served by him on Dec 7, but will now head to another Arrowfield stallion. Sunline, winner of Aus$11 million in stakes, "will now be mated with sire Hussonet (Mr. Prospector-Sacahuista, by Raja Baba) before returning to New Zealand later this month," said her part-owner Steve McKee. Another top mare to miss a mating with Redoute's Choice and is also being sent to Hussonet is Alinghi, the multiple group I winner in Australia who was a grade II winner in her U.S. debut.
Following his dramatic rise to a stud fee of Aus$275,000 this year, it was thought Redoute's Choice would have a smaller book, which looked a certainty before a paddock accident last week ended his 2006 breeding season. The Australian wonder stallion, who will recover in time to serve a healthy 50 plus Northern Hemisphere book in 2007, managed to serve over 180 of his bookings before injury struck. Arrowfield Stud in New South Wales, where he lives, announced last weekend "that the current Australian champion stallion Redoute's Choice (Danehill) will cease covering mares a couple of weeks ahead of season's end, due to a small muscle tear off his near side pin bone. The stallion already has 154 mares tested in-foal. It is expected this will result in a final tally of about 170 mares in-foal for the season (90% fertility)."The official Australian breeding season ends Dec. 31 each year. Arrowfield's John Messara commented: "Eleven mares remain to be served in his book, but the vets are advising the stallion should be rested to the end of the season to enable the muscle to repair. We regret this will inconvenience some of our clients & acknowledge we are being very conservative, but it's better to be safe than sorry."
