Spendthrift Farm changed the shuttling plans for its first-year stallion Hit It a Bomb , who will now be headed to Haras Firmamento in Argentina for the Southern Hemisphere breeding season instead of Spendthrift's operation in Australia.
"We did not anticipate such strong late interest in shuttling Hit It a Bomb, and an unforeseen opportunity came about that was too good to turn down," said B. Wayne Hughes, owner of Spendthrift. "It was a difficult business decision to send him to South America, and we regret any confusion this may cause.
"I want to make it clear that we will continue to be committed to bolstering our stallion operation at Spendthrift Australia," Hughes continued. "The first key to having mutual success for Spendthrift, the stallion, and the breeder is to make sure we are doing our job by having the right horses in the right places. I believe we will have a lot of the right horses coming to Spendthrift Australia in the future."
Hit It a Bomb, a son of War Front —Liscanna, by Sadler's Wells, won the 2015 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) on his way to earning $626,476 in seven lifetime starts. The young stallion was a homebred racing for Evelyn Stockwell and is a full brother to grade 1 winner Brave Anna.
Haras Firmamento has been the leading breeder in Argentina 15 times since 2000, according to the farm's website. The farm also stands group winner Van Nistlerooy; Seattle Fitz, who has sired three group 1 winners in Argentina; Cityscape; Equal Stripes; and, Sol Planet.
Ned Toffey, general manager of Spendthrift Farm, said the strong support Hit It a Bomb would received from a high caliber breeder like Hara Firmamento's helped seal the deal, although he said Hit It a Bomb would have been a good fit in Australia, too, because he's by War Front and was an undefeated, graded stakes winner at 2.
"We had one reservation that opened the door to this opportunity," Toffey said. "Australian breeders like a lot bone in a horse, almost a Quarter Horse body type. Hit It a Bomb is a beautiful horse but he is not that type."
Toffey said Hit It a Bomb will return to Spendthrift Farm near Lexington for 2018 breeding season. The stallion stands for an advertised fee of $7,000.