18 July 2008
Danroad is the leading New Zealand-based first-season sire of the 2007/08 racing season - based on Australasian progeny earnings.The Highview Stud-based sire has progeny earnings of A$412,474 this season with talented Gr. 1 A$505,000 TJ Smith Classic winner Rockdale (ex Komplete Kaos) being the major contributor to this total with earnings of A$385,000. Rockdale also finished second in the Gr. 2 QTC Sires' Produce Stakes at Eagle Farm in May.Rockdale’s Gold Coast-based trainer, John Morrisey, has announced plans for the rising three-year-old to race in Melbourne this spring.Rockdale’s major spring target will be the Group 1 A$1 million Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield in October.Morrisey said Rockdale had been given a three-week spell following his win in the TJ Smith Classic.“He has been back in work for a fortnight and looks a million dollars,” Morrisey said. “I expect a lot of improvement in him as a three-year-old. He’s a very exciting horse and his performance in the TJ Smith Classic showed how much potential he has got.“He will have a couple of race in Brisbane, the first in a month’s time, before going to Melbourne,” Morrisey said.Rockdale is officially one of the highest-rated 2yos in Australasia this season. On the Australasian ratings – published by the Racing And Sports web site, Rockdale has a rating of 118 which makes him the third highest-rated male 2yo of Australia and New Zealand.Danroad, who is owned by the Hong Kong Breeders' Club, has a very impressive strike rate of four individual winners and two placegetters from only nine starters in Australasia this season.Danroad's New Zealand winners this season have been the stakes performer, Amazing Sky, Worthing and Kerilla.On the first-season sires list for Australasia there are only three sires ahead of Danroad and these are all Australian-based - Exceed And Excel, Falbrav and Lohnro.Behind Danroad on earnings of New Zealand-based sires are Thorn Park and Spartacus.Highview Stud managing director Brent Gillovic said Danroad is attracting great support this year from broodmare owners in New Zealand and is expected to have a full book of up to 120 mares, of a highest-ever quality, by the end of this month.A fast son of Danehill, Danroad was a six-time winner, including at Group 2 level as a two-year-old, and the second leading colt on the 2001 New Zealand Two-Year-Old Free Handicaps. Danroad, whose fee is $6000 plus gst, now stands alongside Align and Kashani at Brent and Louise Gillovic's Highview Stud.
