SNITZEL, Not A Single Doubt and Stratum have outstanding records at stud in Australia and they share something in common with Elzaam. They are all sons of the multiple Group 1-star and multiple champion sire Redoute’s Choice (Danehill).
That influential stallion shuttled to Europe briefly from 2013, standing at Haras de Bonneval in France, but had previously covered a select group of mares to northern hemisphere time. Elzaam was in that earlier batch, a January-born bay who was trained by Michael Jarvis for his two-year-old season.
Elzaam won his maiden at York in May, was a nose runner-up to Strong Suit in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, and then placed in both the Group 2 July Stakes and Group 3 Horris Hill Stakes.
He represented Roger Varian at three, running away with a six-furlong listed sprint at Newbury before just missing out on Group 1 blacktype when finishing a two-length fourth to Society Rock in the Golden Jubilee Stakes.
Elzaam made the breakthrough at Group 1 level in 2020 when his fourth-crop daughter Champers Elysees landed the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown. That Johnny Murtagh-trained star’s wins also include the Group 3 Fairy Bridge Stakes at Gowran Park, a seven-and-a-half-furlong race that the prolific Joseph O’Brien-trained Waitingfortheday landed at Tipperary 12 months before.
Playa Del Puente won the Listed Patton Stakes at Dundalk before moving to Hong Kong where, having run well in a variety of races, including finishing second in the Hong Kong Derby, he pushed his earnings past £800,000.
Multiple pattern-placed stakes winner Clem Fandango was a leading sprint juvenile in Britain, the lightly raced Wren’s Breath opened her winning account in last season’s Listed Sweet Mimosa Stakes at Naas, whereas the Paddy Twomey-trained Limiti Di Greccio won the Listed Silken Glider Stakes at the Curragh and holds entries in both the Irish 1000 Guineas and Irish Oaks.
Others have earned blacktype, some placed in Group 2 or Group 3 company, but there’s a talented son without it solely because the major prizes he’s won in Saudi Arabia do not carry the status outside of that country.
Mijack, a multiple winner at six and seven furlongs in England, finished third in the valuable Balmoral Handicap over a mile at Ascot on his final start for Karl Burke, then reeled off a four-timer on dirt in Riyadh, from eight to 10 furlongs, including a local Group 3 and local Group 1. No blacktype, but notable nonetheless for this earner of over £500,000.
Elzaam’s newest juveniles include a Goffs purchase by Nick Bradley Racing in September, and it’s unlikely we’ll have to wait long for his next blacktype horses to become known.
ELZAAM (AUS), Bay 2008. Won two races, £89,635, over 6 furlongs, at 2 and 3 years including, Whitman Howard Bank Carnarvon Stakes, Newbury, L, also placed second in Coventry Stakes, Ascot, Gr.2, and third in TNT July Stakes, Newmarket, Gr.2, John Smith’s Horris Hill Stakes, Newbury, Gr.3.
Retired to Stud in 2013, and sire of the winners of 338 races, and £6,186,028, including CHAMPERS ELYSEES (IRE), WAITINGFORTHEDAY (IRE), LIMITI DI GRECCIO (IRE), WREN’S BREATH (IRE), PLAYA DEL PUENTE (IRE), CLEM FANDANGO (FR), Indicative Vote (IRE), Tuwaiq (IRE), Great Prospector (IRE), Litigator (IRE), Magisterium (IRE), Elzamina (IRE), Frequent Flyer (ITY), You Never Can Tell (IRE), Sarshampla (IRE) and Florida Times (IRE)
Stands at: Ballyhane Stud, Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow, R93 K095, Ireland.
Contact: Joe Foley or Jane Foley
Telephone: +353 (0)59 9722068 or +353 (0)86 2524135 (Joe) or +353 (0)86 8066000 (Jane)
Email: info@ballyhane.com
Web: www.ballyhane.com
Fee: €5,000