Vinery Stud have announced that the royally bred Hawaii Five Oh, a stallion with an uncanny likeness and profile to his illustrious sire I Am Invincible, will join their stallion roster for the 2024 breeding season.

Vinery Stud General Manager Peter Orton is excited about the new addition stating, “Hawaii Five Oh is a spectacular looking horse, he is a good size, well balanced and has perfect confirmation.”

As a dual Group 3 winner who was Group 1 placed, Hawaii Five Oh earned over $2.1million in prizemoney and retires to stud with a superior racing profile than that of his sire when he first retired to stud in 2010. He won on debut in August of his three-year-old season before progressing into Group company quickly, culminating in a pair of consecutive Group 3 victories for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. At his last run as a three-year-old he was third in the $3million Group 1 BRC Stradbroke Handicap where he was within 1.8 lengths of top line sprinters Think About It and Rothfire.

The natural progression Hawaii Five Oh demonstrated through his racetrack career saw him run a brave second to Think About It in the $1million Group 2 ATC Premiere Stakes. In a Chautauqua-like performance, he came from last on the turn to post the fastest final 200m sectional on Epsom Day.

After that fast finishing 0.1 length second, Everest slot holder Aquis swiftly secured him for the $20million event. From barrier 10 in the 12-horse field Hawaii Five Oh was posted four wide the journey but ran a very creditable 6th, only 2.3 lengths from the first three of Think About It, I Wish I Win and Private Eye.

“There is no doubt, Hawaii Five Oh was one of I Am Invincible’s most naturally talented sons. I truly believe we did not see the best from him, however in his short career, he was able to showcase some exceptional talent; he was explosive when breaking through at stakes level with a brilliant Group 3 victory. In an Everest Campaign, he ran the eventual winner to a nose at Group 2 level prior, before performing creditably in the big event itself” co-trainer Adrian Bott reflected.

Where Hawaii Five Oh differs from his own sire is in the strength of his pedigree. He is from a royal female family that has a long history of producing topflight Stakes winners including Group 1 winners Malaquerra, Cool Aza Beel and Seabrook. Incredibly his first five dams are all Stakes winners, giving Hawaii Five Oh the distinction of being the only stallion at stud in Australia with this trait. His mother Aloha was a Group 1 winner of the ATC Coolmore Classic and has quickly established herself as a brilliant producing mare.

“Pedigree depth is so important to us and is what constantly strive for in our standing stallions. Hawaii Five Oh has the looks, the pedigree and showed he was a superior athlete,” said Orton.

Hawaii Five Oh is a representative of the highly successful I Am Invincible/Encosta De Lago cross, which can boast a winners to runners ratio of 79.5% and an incredible Stakes winners to runners percentage of 20.45%. It is a cross that has not only produced Hawaii Five Oh but also his highly talented full sister Libertini, a filly that was a triple Group 2 winner and was also Group 1 placed on three occasions. Both Hawaii Five Oh and Libertini contested The Everest during their careers. Other notable Stakes winners bred on this cross include Group 1 winner Lombardo as well as King’s Gambit, Madam Legend, Salateen, Sangria, Vinco, and Divine Centuri.

When looking at Hawaii Five Oh’s 6×6 tabulated pedigree it quickly becomes apparent he is a breeder’s delight. His first three dams are Stakes winning daughters of Encosta De Lago, Danehill and Bletchingly respectively, and that trio have won 14 Australian Sires Titles between them. His own sire I Am Invincible has won two Australian Sires Titles and is well on his way to a third this season. Other notable stallions featured in the tabulated pedigree include Golden Slipper winners Canny Lad and Vain, while he also boasts a double cross of the aforementioned Bletchingly – something that appears in the pedigrees of 165 other Stakes winners.

Hawaii Five Oh’s breeder Gerry Harvey has committed an elite line up of his Baramul Stud mares to support this exciting young stallion. The strong support from his own birthplace will include mares such as Group 1 Australian Oaks winner Royal Descent, Group winner and Group 1 placed She’s Ideel, as well as Stakes winners No Evidence Needed and Me Me Legarde.

“From birth Hawaii Five Oh’s physical attributes matched his elite pedigree” recalls Baramul Stud Racing Manager, Luke McDonald.

“Frankly, he has Group 1 looks, Group 1 pedigree and was a Group 1 performer. With the quality this family produces, Gerry and I are extremely confident that breeders will reap the rewards in the sales ring.”

Highlights amongst the proven producing mares to visit him this season will include the dam of Te Akau’s 2024 Group 1 winning juvenile Move To Strike, the dam of Group 1 J.J. Atkins Stakes winner Prince Fawaz, and the dams of Stakes winners Best Of Bordeaux, The Elanora, and Vienna Princess.

Hawaii Five Oh will stand his initial season at a service fee of $16,500 including GST. The full roster of Vinery service fees will be released in coming weeks.