Breeders, owners and trainers turned out in force for four days of stallion parades across the Hunter Valley in August, with farms finalising matings ahead of the upcoming covering season.
Yarraman Park Stud opened with a Friday night parade of their roster, headed by 22-year-old multiple Champion Sire, I Am Invincible.
Newgate Farm’s parades saw strong interest in new recruit Wodeton, the multiple Group 1-performed son of Wootton Bassett. He’s expected to serve a full book, with local farm Riverstone Lodge among those signed up to send mares.
Yulong held its inaugural public parade at its new Segenhoe Stud location, introducing four Hunter Valley stallions – Alabama Express, Lucky Vega, Devil Night and Private Harry.
Darley’s Saturday parade featured newly retired dual Group 1 winner Tentyris, who sold out his first season at $88,000.
Parades were also hosted at Vinery Stud, Arrowfield Stud, Widden Stud and Coolmore Stud. All three of Arrowfield, Vinery and Coolmore added new access points to the Dubawi sireline for 2026, with Lead Artist joining Arrowfield, Delacroix standing at Coolmore, and Kia Ora Stud’s homegrown Tropicus standing at Vinery. Arrowfield also drew crowds around The Autumn Sun, whose daughter Autumn Glow claimed a fourth Group 1 win in the G1 Winx Stakes the day prior, while Super Seth created a stir at Coolmore. Widden Stud, home to Champion Sire Zoustar, continued to showcase a roster of consistent quality.
Looking ahead, Coolmore’s City Of Troy is welcoming his first Southern Hemisphere foal crop, while Vinery’s Hawaii Five Oh will see a bumper first crop of 118 yearlings go through the sales ring in 2027.
With the covering season now just hours away, it’s shaping up as another big year on the ground for the Hunter Valley.
* Excerpts from The Thoroughbred Report.
