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Ole Kirk to stand first season at Vinery for $55,000

Dual Group 1 winner Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon) will stand his first season at Vinery Stud for a fee of $55,000 (inc GST). 

“He was certainly the best colt of his generation and he’s a son of Written Tycoon who has taken all before him,” said Vinery’s general manager Peter Orton. “He’s going to match so many mares and he’s going to get the best of opportunities.

“He’s such an exciting horse and as a stallion prospect Ole Kirk is ideal because he will upgrade his mares.”

The Team Hawkes-trained colt broke his maiden in the Talindert Stakes (Listed, 1100m), before finishing third in the VRC Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) on his next start. The son of Written Tycoon (Iglesia) then finished fourth in the ATC Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) and third in the ATC Champagne Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) on his final start as a juvenile. 

Ole Kirk finished second in both the Rosebud Handicap (Listed, 1100m) and Run to the Rose Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) on his first two starts this season and landed his first top-flight race with an impressive victory in the Golden Rose Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m), which he then followed up with an equally dominant win in the Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m). His Group 1 victories saw him being awarded a Timeform rating of 118. 

Ole Kirk was bred by Rick Jamieson’s Gilgai Farm and purchased out of their draft by International Thoroughbred Solutions at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $675,000 - the second most expensive yearling sold at the auction that year. 

The colt hails from Gilgai Farm’s best known family, being out of unraced Bel Esprit (Royal Academy) mare Naturale, who is herself out of Helsinge (Desert Sun), making her a sister to multiple Group 1-winning champion mare Black Caviar (Bel Esprit), while she is also a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner and now Vinery Stud-based sire All Too Hard (Casino Prince). 

Helsinge herself is out of Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Scandinavia (Snippets), who also produced Group 1 winner and Sun Stud-based sire Magnus (Flying Spur), Group 2-winning pair Wilander (Exceed And Excel) and Scandiva (Fastnet Rock) and Listed winner Arctic Flight (Flying Spur). 

“Ole Kirk has the genetic potential and the elite racetrack performance to play a major role in the ongoing development of the Australian thoroughbred industry,” Jamieson said.  “We’re very fortunate as I believe he will be a great speed stallion of the future.”

The colt will join 2019 Coolmore Stud Stakes (registered as Ascot Vale Stakes) (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Exceedance (Exceed And Excel), who will stand his second season at the New South Wales-based nursery for a slightly reduced fee of $33,000 (inc GST) having covered his first book of 142 mares at a fee of $38,500 (inc GST) in 2020. 

“Exceedance has enormous potential at stud and we’re really looking forward to his first foals,” Orton said. “What he achieved in just nine starts was amazing.  He is a beautiful looking horse and Exceed And Excel is a terrific source of early speed.”

Meanwhile, Star Turn (Star Witness) will stand his fifth season at Vinery for an unchanged fee of $16,500 (inc GST). 

The son of Star Witness (Starcraft) has made a good start with his first-crop this season and his seven winners include stakes-placed pair Astrologer and Pegasi. Star Turn is currently sitting second equal with Sooboog (Snitzel) by winners on the Australian first season sires’ premiership.

“We’ve been thrilled with how Star Turn has been received,” Orton said.  “His stock are precocious and athletic - just like their sire.  He’s an excellent outcross option and has averaged 140 mares in his first four seasons.”

Having sired five stakes winners this season, headed by Group 1-winning duo Behemoth and Forbidden Love, All Too Hard (Casino Prince) will stand for an increased fee of $33,000 (inc GST), having stood last term for $27,500 (inc GST), while his father Casino Prince (Flying Spur) will be offered to breeders at an unchanged fee of $5,500 (inc GST). 

Headwater (Exceed And Excel) has been subject to a fee increase and will stand the 2021 season at $16,500 (inc GST) having stood last season for $13,750 (inc GST). The son of Exceed And Excel (Danehill) has been represented by two stakes winners this term, headed by brilliant filly Jamaea, who landed the Percy Sykes Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) at Randwick last Saturday.

The roster is completed by Press Statement (Hinchinbrook), who will stand the 2021 season at an unchanged fee of $13,750 (inc GST).  

Vinery Stud stallion roster - 2021 (2020 fee in brackets) (all inc GST)
Ole Kirk      $55,000 (NEW)
All Too Hard   $33,000 ($27,500)
Exceedance    $33,000 ($38,500)
Headwater    $16,500 ($13,750)
Star Turn      $16,500 (unchanged)
Press Statement $13,750 (unchanged)
Casino Prince  $5,500 (unchanged)