Encosta De Lago
Encyclopedia
Encosta De Lago is an Australia
n bred Thoroughbred
racehorse that won three group races
from eight starts including the Group One
(G1), Vic Health Cup
against older horses. He was the Leading sire in Australia
during 2008 and 2009.
He is a bay stallion with good conformation that was bred by Emirates Park (Vic) Pty Ltd. Encosta de Lago is by Fairy King
(USA) a brother to Sadler’s Wells
, who has sired over 400 winners that have won over A$54.3 million. His dam, Shoal Creek (by Star Way (GB)), is a half-sister to Flying Spur and great granddaughter of the famous Northern Dancer
mare, Fanfreluche
(USA). Shoal Creek has produced four named foals which included:
over 1,200 m. He then finished third in the G1 MRC Caulfield Guineas
. Prior to the running of the G2 MVRC Bill Stutt Stakes
over 1,600 metres at Moonee Valley
Encosta de Lago returned a test over the legal limit to the performance enhancing substance TC02, or bicarbonate, commonly called a milkshake. A second test showed a lower level, however a third was ordered by the analyst and official vet, also came up under the limit and Encosta De Lago was permitted to start and won this, his last start, easily. As a three-year-old he had 6 starts for 3 wins and 1 third and $457,250.
Total racing record: 8 starts for 3 wins and 3 thirds for $469,850 in prizemoney.
Trainer, Lee Freedman
commented that "Encosta De Lago is one of the most gifted horses I have trained, so it is of no surprise that he has become a champion stallion. He was an imposing colt with a magnificent action and turn of foot, traits he has passed on to his offspring. His win in the VicHealth Cup was miraculous. Injury curtailed his racing career, but it probably helped him as a stallion."
for an introductory fee of $8,500, increased to $38,500 in 2003.
In 2004 Coolmore Stud
purchased Encosta De Lago and he was relocated to their stud at Jerrys Plains, New South Wales. Here he first stood for a reported fee of $132,000, making him then Australasia's highest-priced stallion.
Encosta de Lago became one of the most sought after sires in Australia and in 2006 his service fee increased to $176,000. He travelled to Coolmore Stud in Ireland, for part of the northern hemisphere
breeding season, from March 2007 until August 2007 when he served 66 mares. When he returned to Australia he was one of the first horses to contract equine influenza (E.I.) while in quarantine.
He was the Leading sire in Australia
in 2007–08 and 2008–09; and second in 2005–06 and 2006–07. In 2008 Encosta de Lago's service fee rose to $302,500 and he served 227 mares that season who produced 166 live foals for an 80.0% fertility rating. That season he placed second, by number of mares covered in Australia, behind Fastnet Rock
.
Some of his most successful G1 or G2 winning progeny includes:
In addition Encosta De Lago is the broodmare sire of stakes winners Beneteau, Musir, She's Got Gears and Stokehouse.
Encosta De Lago's first northern hemisphere bred yearling sold to leading trainer, Bob Baffert at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale for US$500,000. The stallion has now sired over 1,700 foals in Australia with 950 runners, 619 winners (including about 70 stakes winners) for earnings of A$90 million during his 13 years at stud. He is the sire of winners in Australia, Hong Kong
, Ireland
, New Zealand, Singapore and South Africa. In 2010, 88 yearlings sired by him were sold at Australian auctions for an average of A$250,000. His stud fee for 2010 is $143,000 including GST, with a free return.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n bred Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse that won three group races
Group races
Group races are the highest standard of Thoroughbred horseraces in Australia. The Australian Pattern Committee recommends to the Australian Racing Board which races shall be designated as Group races...
from eight starts including the Group One
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
(G1), Vic Health Cup
Invitation Stakes
The Invitation Stakes, also known as the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred open handicap horse race, run over a distance of 1400 metres at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne in September.-The winners:*2011 - Toorak Toff...
against older horses. He was the Leading sire in Australia
Leading sire in Australia
The list below shows the leading sire of Thoroughbred racehorses in Australia for each season since 1883–84. This is determined by the amount of prize money won by the sire's progeny during the season.----- References :* -See also:...
during 2008 and 2009.
He is a bay stallion with good conformation that was bred by Emirates Park (Vic) Pty Ltd. Encosta de Lago is by Fairy King
Fairy King
Fairy King was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and a successful sire. A full brother to Sadler's Wells, he was bred and raced by Robert Sangster and associates. Out of the mare Fairy Bridge, he was sired by Northern Dancer who is regarded as the 20th century’s best sire of sires. Fairy...
(USA) a brother to Sadler’s Wells
Sadler's Wells (horse)
Sadler's Wells was a Thoroughbred racehorse that was later a leading sire in France, Great Britain & Ireland and North America during the 1990s. He was foaled in 1981 in the United States, but achieved most of his racing and breeding fame in Europe....
, who has sired over 400 winners that have won over A$54.3 million. His dam, Shoal Creek (by Star Way (GB)), is a half-sister to Flying Spur and great granddaughter of the famous Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer was a Canadian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and the most successful sire of the 20th Century. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association calls him "one of the most influential sires in Thoroughbred history"....
mare, Fanfreluche
Fanfreluche (horse)
Fanfreluche was a Canadian-bred Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. She was named by her French Canadian owner for the title character of a popular children's television show on the French-language division of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation...
(USA). Shoal Creek has produced four named foals which included:
- 1999 bay or brown colt, Diera Creek by Snaadee (USA)
- 2002 chestnut colt, Salman by Danewin
- 2006 bay or brown filly, Zyoon, by Al Maher, but none of these horses are currently stakes-winners.
At two-years-old
Encosta de Lago had two race starts for 2 thirds in the VRC Maribyrnong Plate [G2] and the Listed, MRC Debutant Stakes for $12,600 in prizemoney.At three-years-old
At three he won the G1, MRC Vic Health Cup over 1,400 metres and the G2, VRC Ascot Vale StakesAscot Vale Stakes
The Coolmore Stud Stakes is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for three year olds, at set weights, run over 1200 metres at Flemington Racecourse on VRC Derby Day...
over 1,200 m. He then finished third in the G1 MRC Caulfield Guineas
Caulfield Guineas
The Caulfield Guineas is a Melbourne Racing Club Australian Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held over 1600 metres at set weights for three-year-old horses, held annually on the second Saturday in October and forms part of the Spring Carnival at Caulfield Racecourse. Total prize money is A$1 million...
. Prior to the running of the G2 MVRC Bill Stutt Stakes
Bill Stutt Stakes
The Bill Stutt Stakes is a MVRC Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old, under open set weight conditions, over a distance of 1600 metres. It is held annually at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne...
over 1,600 metres at Moonee Valley
Moonee Valley Racecourse
Moonee Valley Racecourse is a horse-racing track in Melbourne, Australia which hosts races for Thoroughbreds. Located six kilometers from the Melbourne CBD, it is the home of the Moonee Valley Racing Club...
Encosta de Lago returned a test over the legal limit to the performance enhancing substance TC02, or bicarbonate, commonly called a milkshake. A second test showed a lower level, however a third was ordered by the analyst and official vet, also came up under the limit and Encosta De Lago was permitted to start and won this, his last start, easily. As a three-year-old he had 6 starts for 3 wins and 1 third and $457,250.
Total racing record: 8 starts for 3 wins and 3 thirds for $469,850 in prizemoney.
Trainer, Lee Freedman
Lee Freedman
David Lee Freedman is a prominent Australian racehorse trainer. In partnership with brothers Anthony, Michael, and Richard, he has been a prolific winner of Australia's major races in past 20 years, with four Golden Slippers, four Caulfield Cups, two Cox Plates, and five Melbourne Cups,...
commented that "Encosta De Lago is one of the most gifted horses I have trained, so it is of no surprise that he has become a champion stallion. He was an imposing colt with a magnificent action and turn of foot, traits he has passed on to his offspring. His win in the VicHealth Cup was miraculous. Injury curtailed his racing career, but it probably helped him as a stallion."
Stud record
When Encosta De Lago retired from racing in 1997 he stood at Blue Gum Farm, Euroa, VictoriaEuroa, Victoria
Euroa is a town in the Shire of Strathbogie in North-East Victoria, Australia.At the 2006 census, Euroa had a population of 2,776. The name Euroa comes from an Aboriginal word in the old local dialect meaning "joyful".-History:Major T.L...
for an introductory fee of $8,500, increased to $38,500 in 2003.
In 2004 Coolmore Stud
Coolmore Stud
Coolmore Stud, in Fethard, South Tipperary in Ireland, is the world's largest breeding operation of thoroughbred racehorses. It was established in 1975....
purchased Encosta De Lago and he was relocated to their stud at Jerrys Plains, New South Wales. Here he first stood for a reported fee of $132,000, making him then Australasia's highest-priced stallion.
Encosta de Lago became one of the most sought after sires in Australia and in 2006 his service fee increased to $176,000. He travelled to Coolmore Stud in Ireland, for part of the northern hemisphere
Northern Hemisphere
The Northern Hemisphere is the half of a planet that is north of its equator—the word hemisphere literally means “half sphere”. It is also that half of the celestial sphere north of the celestial equator...
breeding season, from March 2007 until August 2007 when he served 66 mares. When he returned to Australia he was one of the first horses to contract equine influenza (E.I.) while in quarantine.
He was the Leading sire in Australia
Leading sire in Australia
The list below shows the leading sire of Thoroughbred racehorses in Australia for each season since 1883–84. This is determined by the amount of prize money won by the sire's progeny during the season.----- References :* -See also:...
in 2007–08 and 2008–09; and second in 2005–06 and 2006–07. In 2008 Encosta de Lago's service fee rose to $302,500 and he served 227 mares that season who produced 166 live foals for an 80.0% fertility rating. That season he placed second, by number of mares covered in Australia, behind Fastnet Rock
Fastnet Rock (horse)
Fastnet Rock is an Australian Thoroughbred racehorse stallion.Sired by Danehill to dam Piccadilly Circus, he started his racing career in 2004. Though he did not win any races as a two-year-old, he ran third in the Group One AJC Sires Produce Stakes. He found great success after turning three years...
.
Some of his most successful G1 or G2 winning progeny includes:
- AlinghiAlinghi (horse)Alinghi is an Australian Thoroughbred racemare who won four Group One races, including the Newmarket Handicap and A$4,161,740 in prizemoney. She was by the leading sire, Encosta De Lago from Oceanfast by Monde Bleu...
(11 wins, $3,563,164, MRC Blue Diamond StakesBlue Diamond StakesThe Blue Diamond Stakes is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for two year olds, at set weights, run over 1200 metres at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The race was first run in 1971 and is Victoria's richest two year old race with total prizemoney of A$1.0 million...
, VRC Newmarket HandicapNewmarket HandicapThe Newmarket Handicap is a VRC Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia. The event is an open handicap race over 1200 metres...
, MRC One Thousand Guineas etc.) - Count Encosta (STC Myer Stakes)
- De Lago Mist (VRC Sires Produce StakesVRC Sires Produce StakesThe VRC Sires Produce Stakes is a Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for two year olds, run at set weights, over a distance of 1400 metres, at Flemington Racecourse in March each year. The total prizemoney is A$302,000...
) - Delago Brom (4 wins, $888,500, VRC Australian GuineasAustralian GuineasThe Australian Guineas is a VRC Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for three year olds, run at set weights, over a distance of 1600 metres at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne in March...
, sire of 4 stakes-winners) - Douro Valley (8 wins, $1,239,258, MRC Yalumba StakesCaulfield StakesThe VATC Caulfield Stakes is now a Melbourne Racing Club Australian Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run under weight-for-age conditions, for three-year-olds and upwards, at Caulfield Racecourse. The race was previously known as the Caulfield Stakes but since 1997 it has been referred to as the...
) - Dream The Dream (South Australian Oaks)
- Hanks (MVRC AAMI VaseAAMI VaseThe AAMI Vase is a Moonee Valley Racing Club Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race held under set weight conditions, for horses aged three years old, over a distance of 2040 metres. It is held at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne on WS Cox Plate Day...
) - Lashed (7 wins, $976,714, ARC New Zealand International StakesNew Zealand International StakesThe International Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race run at Te Rapa Racecourse in Hamilton in early February every year. The 2010 running was sponsored by the connections of stallion Darci Brahma, after being sponsored for many years by Whakanui Stud....
, WaikRC International Stakes, ARC Zabeel ClassicZabeel ClassicThe Zabeel Classic is a Group One Thoroughbred horse race run at weight-for-age over a distance of 2000 metres at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand...
) - Manhattan Rain ($1,311,200, AJC Sires Produce StakesAJC Sires Produce StakesThe AJC Sires Produce Stakes is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horserace for two year olds at set weights run over a distance of 1,400 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney in April. The race was first run over one mile in 1867 and won by Glencoe...
etc.) - Mnemosyne (6 wins, $1,371,975, STC Queen Of The Turf StakesQueen Of The Turf StakesThe Queen of the Turf Stakes is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares aged three years old and upwards. It is a Weight for age race, run over a distance of 1500 metres at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, Sydney in April.-Race History:...
, MRC One Thousand Guineas etc.) - Newport (9 wins, $1,210,600, AJC Metropolitan Handicap, Brisbane CupBrisbane CupThe Brisbane Cup is a Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for three year olds and upwards, run under handicap conditions over a distance of 2400 metres at Eagle Farm Racecourse, Brisbane in June...
) - Northern Meteor (3 wins, $532,480, VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes)
- Our Smoking Joe (10 wins, $1,586,700, MRC St George StakesSt George StakesThe St George Stakes is a Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race held under weight for age conditions, for horses aged two years old and upwards, over a distance of 1800 metres. It is held at Caulfield racecourse in Melbourne every February. Total prize money is A$200,000.-Distance:1900 -...
) - Princess CoupPrincess CoupPrincess Coup is a New Zealand thoroughbred racehorse. She is most noted for twice winning the Kelt Capital Stakes, New Zealand's premier race, in 2007 and 2008. She also won the 2007 New Zealand Oaks and 2008 Stoneybridge Stakes, and ran third in the 2007 Caulfield Cup...
(12 wins, $3,651,776, HBRInc Stoney Bridge Stakes, HBRInc Kelt Capital Stakes (twice), WRC New Zealand OaksNew Zealand OaksThe New Zealand Oaks is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three year-old fillies run at set weights over a distance of 2400 metres on the third Saturday of March every year at Trentham racecourse in Wellington, New Zealand....
) - Racing To Win (13 wins, $3,762,285, STC George Ryder StakesGeorge Ryder StakesThe George Ryder Stakes is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race at Weight for age run over a distance of 1,500 metres at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, Sydney in April...
, AJC Doncaster HandicapDoncaster HandicapThe Doncaster Mile is a Group One Thoroughbred horse race held at Royal Randwick Racecourse, Sydney. Although the race has traditionally been held on Easter Monday, the race is now run on the third Saturday in April. The race is contested over 1,600 metres . The prizemoney in 2010 was A$1,510,000...
, AJC George Main StakesGeorge Main StakesThe George Main Stakes is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race run under Weight for Age conditions, over a distance of 1600 metres at RandwickRacecourse, Sydney in September. Total prize money for the race is A$303,300....
, AJC Epsom HandicapEpsom HandicapThe Epsom Handicap is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race held over 1,600 metres at Randwick Racecourse. It is one of the major races of the Sydney Spring Carnival. Many great milers have won the race, including Chatham, Gunsynd, and Super Impose, who was also a dual winner of the...
, AJC All Aged StakesAll Aged StakesThe All Aged Stakes is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race at Weight for Age, run over a distance of 1,400 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney in April or May...
) - Road To Rock (6 wins, $1,153,350, AJC George Main StakesGeorge Main StakesThe George Main Stakes is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race run under Weight for Age conditions, over a distance of 1600 metres at RandwickRacecourse, Sydney in September. Total prize money for the race is A$303,300....
, AJC Queen Elizabeth StakesAJC Queen Elizabeth StakesThe AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run at Weight for Age, over a distance of 2,000 metres in April or May at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
) - Sacred KingdomSacred KingdomSacred Kingdom , is a Thoroughbred racehorse trained in Hong Kong. His group one success came in the Hong Kong Sprint.In Australia he was known as Jumbo Star.- References :*...
(formerly Jumbo Star) (World Co-Champion Sprinter; 15 wins, $5,632,838, Hong Kong SprintHong Kong SprintThe Hong Kong Sprint is a Group 1 flat horse race in Hong Kong which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 1,200 metres at Sha Tin, and it is scheduled to take place each year in mid December....
( twice), Chairman's Sprint Prize (twice), Singapore International SprintKrisFlyer International SprintThe KrisFlyer International Sprint is a Thoroughbred horse race held annually in mid May at Kranji Racecourse in Singapore. Contested on turf over a left-handed course, the International Group 1 sprint race is run over a distance 1200 meters and is open to horses age three and older...
, Centenary Sprint Cup, Hong Kong Horse of the YearHong Kong Horse of the YearHorse of the Year is the most prestigious honor in Thoroughbred horse racing given by racing organizations in a variety of countries around the world....
) - Shadoways (6 wins, $703,900, SAJC Goodwood HandicapGoodwood HandicapThe Goodwood Handicap is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race, run at set weights with penalties, over a distance of 1200 metres at Morphettville Racecourse, Adelaide in April...
) - Sirmione (4 wins, $1,894,375, VRC Australian CupAustralian CupThe Australian Cup is a Group 1 Weight for Age race for Thoroughbred racehorses run over 2000 metres, at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in March...
, VRC Mackinnon Stakes) - Titanic Jack (8 wins, $1,288,950, VRC Emirates Stakes, Alister Clark StakesAlister Clark StakesThe Alister Clark Stakes is a MVRC Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race, for three year-old colts and geldings, at set weights, over a distance of 2040 metres. It is held annually at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia...
)
In addition Encosta De Lago is the broodmare sire of stakes winners Beneteau, Musir, She's Got Gears and Stokehouse.
Encosta De Lago's first northern hemisphere bred yearling sold to leading trainer, Bob Baffert at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale for US$500,000. The stallion has now sired over 1,700 foals in Australia with 950 runners, 619 winners (including about 70 stakes winners) for earnings of A$90 million during his 13 years at stud. He is the sire of winners in Australia, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, New Zealand, Singapore and South Africa. In 2010, 88 yearlings sired by him were sold at Australian auctions for an average of A$250,000. His stud fee for 2010 is $143,000 including GST, with a free return.