You don't see that many Australian ads in the European Bloodstock News. The ad on p.2 of yesterday's EBN was therefore somewhat noticeable:



Last month Arrowfield issued a media release stating that Redoute's Choice would be bred to a limited number of mares on Northern Hemisphere time at Arrowfield Stud; the stallion unable to be shuttled due to insurance considerations.

The media release went on to say:

"There has been some interest from international breeders to use Redoute’s Choice in Australia on a NH basis, and this has caused the syndicate to accept mares for service in the new year.

“While it is difficult to say what demand there would be, his NH book will only be a maximum of, say, 25 mares, as we want to give him a decent rest before next season,” said John Messara, Syndicate Manager.

“Perhaps the produce of his NH bookings will open up new vistas for this great horse,” added Messara.

Redoute’s Choice has just completed a Southern Hemisphere book of approximately 175 mares plus free returns from the 2004 season.

The advertising in the EBN has therefore intrigued me. Is this early preparations for forthcoming yearling sales in Aus (to prospective international buyers)? Are the 25 vacant slots for mares not taken as yet? Or will the final number of mares RC covers be higher than initially proposed ?

The inclusion of 'Fact 1' on the advertisement suggests that this ad might be the first of many.

It's always good to follow campaigns to see what their ultimate objectives are, so I will keep you posted.

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A reader has contacted me to say that the same series of ads ran in the Thoroughbred Daily News (US) last month and apparently there are 8 ads in total.