VINERY Stud’s foundation stallion, Red Ransom reached an epic milestone and joined an elite group when he sired his 100th individual stakeswinner last weekend.
The feat sees him join some true immortals of breeding such as Northern Dancer, Mr Prospector, Sadler’s Wells, Sunday Silence, Storm Cat, Sir Tristram and one of the greatest of all, Danehill.
Red Ransom began stud duties at Vinery’s Kentucky headquarters in 1991 and was Champion first Season sire in 2004.
The son of Roberto first shuttled to Australia in the 1999 season becoming Vinery Australia’s foundation sire.
In Australia and New Zealand alone, Red Ransom has so far sired almost 250 winners at strike-rate of 70 percent.
He has 26 individual stakeswinners and 23 stakesplaced and several sons now retired at Stud.
“Red Ransom did so much to establish Vinery as a commercial stud farm in Australia,” Vinery’s general manager Peter Orton said.
“He proved an instant success siring a number of stakeswinners from that first crop including Halibery who won both the Blue Diamond Prelude and Preview and was runner-up in the Blue Diamond Stakes.
“In fact from his first crop he had three runners in the Golden Slipper and three runners in the VRC Derby the same year, a testament to his versatility as a stallion.”
“Red Ransom sired stakeswinner’s from ever crop after that including really high class Group One winners like Onemorenomore, Duporth, All American, Red Dazzler and of course, Typhoon Tracy – last season’s Australian Horse of the Year.
“Red Ransom provided the ultimate outcross for the vast number of Northern Dancer and Star Kingdom-line mares that make up the Australian broodmare population,” Orton continued.
“This fact, combined with the versatility of his progeny to be able to perform from 1000m to a classic distance and beyond, was the mainstay for his success.
“We are seeing now that several of his sons have gone to stud, including Onemorenomore at Vinery – that will be his legacy.”
The honour of Red Ransom’s 100th stakeswinner was bestowed on Emmrooz, owned by Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who won the Listed Jebel Ali Stakes.
Red Ransom has sired winners in 35 countries – on dirt and turf and all climates.
He has sired Group 1 winning sprinters such as Charge Forward (Champion Sire Season Sire), Duporth, Red Clubs, great milers such as Intikhab, Onemorenomore, All American, Red Dazzler, a Breeders Cup winner in Perfect Sting, and English Oaks winner in Casual Look, a Dubai World Cup winner in Electrocutionist and of course an Australian Horse of the year in Typhoon Tracy.
Red Ransom passed away in 2009 and is buried in pride of place below the Stallion Parade area at Vinery Stud at Scone. Red Ransom is succeeded by his son Onemorenomore in the Vinery barn. One of five son’s of Red Ransom son’s to retire to Stud in 2010, Onemorenomore was very well received and covered 145 mares in his first season.
“Red Ransom will always be remembered very fondly, we are thrilled he has reached this major milestone – Vinery would not be where we are today without him,” Orton said.
