Oratorio
It has been a huge year in Europe for Danehill stallion Oratorio. The prolific sire of international Gr1 winners heads for the lush pastures of Avontuur Estate later this month with a host of impressively outstanding finishes on the European leading sire tables following the end of the Northern Hemisphere season last week.
Leading South African breeders Avontuur Stud recently announced a coup for the SA breeding industry when acquiring the proven and sought after Australian stallion from Coolmore.
And while the international confidence booster was hardly required as his consistent track record speaks volumes, Oratorio proved the early endorsements and confidence spot-on with a truly terrific year in Europe.
He finished third behind the legends Oasis Dream and Galileo on the Individual Winners Listing and ahead of the likes of Rock Of Gibraltar, Pivotal and Dansili.
Oratorio finished sixth with 12 winners on the Individual Black-Type winners table scoring in 18 black-types races. His runners earned in excess of 2,3 million pounds and he has the distinction of finishing above Dubawi and Holy Roman Emperor.
Oratorio finished twelfth on the overall leading European sires listing measured by stake earnings.
This fellow was an outstandingly versatile racehorse, winning from 1200m to 2000m. A Gr1 winning 2yo, Oratorio was also a dual Gr.1 winner of the Eclipse Stakes and Irish Champion Stakes at 3.
His first two Australian crops include exciting Gr.1 winner Manawanui, Gr.1 winning 2yo Banchee and Torio’s Quest, winner of the Gr2 Queensland Guineas and Listed $1 Million Gold Coast Magic Millions 3yo Guineas.
Oratorio is currently based just outside of Sydney in Australia and is due to fly to Dubai around 17 January, and then on to Luxembourg en route to the Kenilworth Quarantine Station near Cape Town.
Avontuur General Manager Pippa Mickleburgh commented: “It’s a long trip, but it was our only option as we wanted to get him to Cape Town rather than Johannesburg.”
She added that Oratorio’s book was ‘just about full ’ with ‘just a few places’ still open.
“Not since Var’s arrival has there been such a buzz of excitement on the farm. And the anticipation runs wide with our phones ringing off the hook as breeders make enquiries. The publication of the European statistics do all the talking and it appears that everybody has realised what is looming and headed our way. And they obviously want to get in early!” she said with a smile.
Oratorio will form a powerful Avontuur two-pronged attack as stands alongside Avontuur’s sensational Forest Wildcat stallion,Var, sire of the 2012 SA Horse Of The Year and current Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate favourite, Variety Club.
(Statistics kindly supplied by Hyperion Promotions Ltd)
