THE stallion market is ultra-competitive and it is hard for a horse who was not a stakes winner to make an impact, but those who have overcome that challenge include Kodiac (by Danehill).
He picked up his only blacktype when runner-up in the Group 3 Hackwood Stakes but is out of the classic heroine Rafha (by Kris) and so is a three-parts brother to Group 1 scorer and leading international sire Invincible Spirit (by Green Desert). Kodiac has only one Group 1 winner to his name so far, but his profile has been rising steadily, his yearlings and foals are very popular, and he already has a string of sons at stud.
Adaay, Ardad, Kodi Bear and Prince Of Lir all succeeded at Group 2 level, while Coulsty and Koropick are Group 3 winners. The latter, himself a 50,000gns yearling, took last summer’s Group 3 Chipchase Stakes over six furlongs at Newcastle, a fortnight after chasing home the mighty Battaash in a five-furlong listed contest at Sandown.He was trained by Hugo Palmer.
His racecourse debut came the previous August and that four and a half-length success over six furlongs at Thirsk was quickly followed by his first step into blacktype company. He chased home The Last Lion in the Group 3 Sirenia Stakes that day, beaten by four lengths, and although out of the frame finished the same margin behind that colt when the pair met again in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket three weeks later.
Koropick, who achieved the same career-peak handicap mark as his sire did (109), is a half-brother to the multiple winner Phebes Wish (by Diamond Green) and his dam Kathoe (by Fayruz) is out of an unraced half-sister to Group 2 Gallinule Stakes fourth Northern Date (by Far North).
It is under the next generation of the family, however, that you find the best who preceded him and they are none other than Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas and Group 1 Sussex Stakes hero Jaazeiro (by Sham) and his classic-placed, Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes-winning champion sibling Woodstream (by Northern Dancer). There are also branches that lead to a plethora of stakes and pattern winners around the world, so while his immediate distaff line might appear light, it has strong roots.
Koropick was a speedy autumn juvenile and a talented sprinter at three, he is a son of one of the most popular stallions in Ireland, and comes from a branch of a classic-producing family, and this makes him an interesting new addition to the stallion ranks.
KOROPICK (IRE), Bay 2014. Won two races, £66,870, over 6 furlongs, at 2 and 3 years including, Betfred Chipchase Stakes, Newcastle, Gr.3, also placed 2nd Totequadpot Sirenia Stakes, Kempton Park, Gr.3 and Randox Health Scurry Stakes, Sandown Park, L.
Retires to stud in 2018
Stands at: Annshoon Stud, Ballinclea, Mullinavat, Co Kilkenny, Ireland.
Contact: Michael Shefflin (Annshoon) or Andy David (WLS Bloodstock)
Telephone: +353 (0)87 9786428 (Michael) or +353 (0)87 2498737 (Andy)
Email: annshoon@gmail.com or info@wlsbloodstock.com
Web: www.annshoonstud.com
Fee: €3,000