By Peter Wharton
Tasmanian siring ranks have been given a terrific boost with the announcement that three ‘new’ stallions will be standing at Kerrie Hymers’ Tourello Standardbreds stud, Sheffield.
The highly touted trio are dual Horse of the Year, Inter Dominion champion and emerging sire Lennytheshark, the 2021 USA Breeders Crown winner Summa Cum Laude and Bettor’s Delight’s richest son and now leading Canadian juvenile sire All Bets Off.
A 23-time Group winner, Lennytheshark will be standing at the northern Tasmanian stud, while Summa Cum Laude and All Bets Off will both be available via frozen semen.
Lennytheshark, who was first at stud in Victoria, has already sired several winners from his initial crop including the quinella pair in the $50,000 Vicbred Home Grown 3YO Classic, Little Miss Lily (1:54.7) and Lennys Angel, and others in Heathbern Bruce (1:58.1) and Leni Rose.
Interestingly, almost 40 percent of Lennytheshark’s first crop has raced.
Raced only at 2 and 3, the Somebeachsomewhere horse Summa Cum Laude took his record of 1:50.4 dead-heating with Perfect Sting in the $600,000 Breeders Crown Final at Hoosier Park, Indiana, clocking his last quarter in 26.3. He also won the $204,050 Kindergarten Classic Series Final at The Meadowlands and was placed in the Cane Pace, Governor’s Cup, Bluegrass Stake and International Stallion Stake.
Summa Cum Laude earned $551,275 – an excellent total in a brief career.
A $260,000 yearling, Summa Cum Laude lacks nothing on the score of blood. Apart from being by Somebeachsomwhere, he is out of the world champion and 100 percent producer Western Graduate 1:51.2 ($1.3 million) and his grand-dam has left five inside 1:53 and four $200,000 earners.
As a testament to his outstanding race record, breeding and conformation, Summa Cum Laude was fully booked in his first two seasons in Ohio.
All Bets Off competed with real distinction on the USA Grand Circuit, winning 30 races and amassing $3,186,658 in stakes and taking a record of 1:48. Among his major successes were the Messenger, Matron Stake, Carl Milstein Memorial, Confederation Cup and Prix d’Ete.
Retired to stud, All Bets Off’s first crop as two-year-olds last year earned over $800,000, placing him second on the Ontario sires’ list. His stock includes two $100,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold winners, a $160,000 Battle of the Belles winner, a $225,000 OSS Super Gold Final placegetter and a North American Cup finalist.
In all, All Bets Off’s initial crop has earned almost $1.5 million with 17 in 1:55, 50 in 2:00 and an amazing 80 percent starters-to-foals ratio.
For bookings and further information phone Kerrie Hymers on 0412 287 024.