Vinery Stud has announced that Ole Kirk, one of the most sought-after stud prospects in the country, will join its stallion roster at the conclusion of his racing career.
The Hunter Valley nursery will join the current ownership group, which includes the colt’s astute breeder Ric Jamieson, for the remainder of his racetrack career. A Flemington stakes winning juvenile who was also Group 1 placed at two, Ole Kirk has taken all before him this season at three by winning major stallion making Group 1 races in Sydney and Melbourne. The Team Hawkes trained colt became just the second horse to take out the ATC Golden Rose – MRC Caulfield Guineas double after The Autumn Sun achieved the feat in 2018.
“We are obviously delighted to be involved with Ole Kirk and to have secured the breeding rights for when he retires to stud”, said Vinery Stud’s General Manager Peter Orton.
“He will be a very important addition to the young, exciting stallion ranks at Vinery. Being by Written Tycoon, certainly the hottest stallion of the moment and an emerging sire of sires, Ole Kirk’s pedigree offers a vital outcross to the plethora of Danehill line mares in Australasia. The colt has the benefit of a strong shareholder group involved in his racing, and they are strongly committed to his future at stud. We have the added advantage of having his elite breeder Ric Jamieson involved in identifying mares to suit the horse and breeding a good number of his own mares to Ole Kirk ensuring he has every opportunity to succeed at stud.”
Bred by Jamieson’s Gilgai Farm, Ole Kirk was purchased for $675,000 at the 2019 Melbourne Premier yearling sale by Mark Player in conjunction with Hall Of Fame trainer John Hawkes. He is from the Bel Esprit mare Naturale, a full sister to Champion race mare Black Caviar and half-sister to Vinery resident and leading young stallion All Too Hard.
“As breeder and part owner of our most exciting horse Ole Kirk, I am thrilled to have Vinery come in as a partner in the colt” commented Jamieson.
“Ole Kirk has the genetic potential and the elite racetrack performance to play a major role in the ongoing development of the Australian Thoroughbred industry. He is from one of the most successful pedigrees in the Australian Stud Book, descending back to the blue hen mares Scandinavia and Helsinge. His sire line traces back through to Last Tycoon and Try My Best, making him a great genetic match for mares carrying Danehill in their pedigree. We had great interest from a number of studs for him but after many detailed discussions we settled on Vinery, as their team headed by Peter were very keen to land him for stud duties and made a compelling proposal. With the support of all current owners as well as that of Vinery and their loyal clients he will be supported with a great line up of mares when he begins his stud career. Personally I believe we have been fortunate and put our foot on a future great speed stallion and can’t wait for him to begin the next phase of his exciting career.”
Ole Kirk is currently spelling and will soon resume work for his Autumn three-year-old campaign.
