The solution to Australia’s increasing reliance on expensive imports to populate domestic staying races may well be right under our noses.
Based on a recent study conducted by The Thoroughbred Report (TTR), an estimated $500 million has been splashed on imported racehorses in Australia since 2020.
These eye-watering figures prompt the question – at what point does risk outstrip reward? Or perhaps more importantly, do these imports still constitute value?
The TTR’s study, which encompasses a four-year period from 2020-2024, reveals the true numbers behind the perceived success of our northern hemisphere neighbours down under:
- Of the 10 Group 1 winners to arrive in Australia, only one of those won a Group 1 here
- 1 in 9.3 imports never won a race in Australia
- The average price paid is estimated to be up to $700,000
So, for all their publicity, there are many imports that ultimately under deliver on their promise.
One import that has unquestionably over delivered is VIA SISTINA (the sole Group 1 winner between 2020-2024). But amidst her success, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that Yulong parted with a lazy $5.4 million to acquire her after she traded for a paltry $10,000 as a yearling.
VIA SISTINA at least went through a public auction, so the transaction was there for all to see. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for many other imports as there is no third party or regulator authorised to oversee private acquisitions. Therefore, when shares become available, there is no means for the public to substantiate the advertised price. As if these imports were not expensive enough.
As the exorbitant expenditure on imports approaches a critical mass moment, Australian racing appears to have fortuitously stumbled upon a domestic reservoir of stamina, and it comes in the unlikely shape of a DANEHILL-line stallion – TRAPEZE ARTIST. Is he the answer to Australia’s dwindling staying stocks? We’ll let you be the judge.
Let’s take a look at stakes winners. More specifically, the ratio of stakes winners over a mile and beyond to total stakes winners:
TRAPEZE ARTIST = 83.3%
DUNDEEL = 81%
SO YOU THINK = 68.8%
MAURICE = 65.6%
PIERRO = 62.5%
SHAMUS AWARD = 62%
PRIDE OF DUBAI = 60.8%
THE AUTUMN SUN = 60%
TORONADO = 57.8%
*minimum 200 starters
This Saturday’s Group 1 Metropolitan (2400m) has assembled a field of 18 plus two emergencies. The only two domestically-bred starters are both by TRAPEZE ARTIST – FLYING BANDIT (raced by Proven) and PIGGYBACK. These unheralded horses were purchased for $20,000 and $27,000 respectively – a far cry from the advertised $2million paid for French-bred topweight VAUBAN who still has some $1.58million to earn before recouping his price tag.
FLYING BANDIT is only the second Magic Millions Adelaide graduate to contest The Metropolitan in the last 22 years while PIGGYBACK was secured via an online Magic Millions dispersal sale. It can’t be just a coincidence that the only two Australian-bred runners in the 2025 Metropolitan are by the same sire and were virtually unwanted in the sale ring.
TRAPEZE ARTIST may have been a sprinter himself, but his offspring are displaying remarkable staying prowess, especially when you consider his stakes winners over a journey have been out of mares by WANTED, CHOISIR, LONHRO and SEBRING.
One wonders what kind of stayer he could get when mated with a proper stamina-laden NZ family. Interestingly, only 13% of his starters to date are out of NZ-bred mares.
This resource remains very much untapped and was at the forefront of our strategy when we secured the TRAPEZE ARTIST x LANU MOANA (NZ) filly at the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
LANU MOANA is by Cox Plate winner OCEAN PARK and two of her three siblings to race contested Oaks and Derbies after finishing runner-up in the Adrian Knox (2000m) and Tulloch Stakes (2000m).
With the likes of VISION AND POWER, ESPIONA, STEPS IN TIME and FORGOT YOU deeper in her pedigree, this is not your run-of-the-mill NZ family. It is elite.
She has all the ingredients to stay and just as importantly, has the right trainer in Kerry Parker, who also prepares FLYING BANDIT for us.
The breeders Mullaglass Stud have shown their faith in the product by retaining a share.
And for just $3850 per 2.5% share, you can be involved for a fraction of what it would cost you to buy into an import priced on the false promise of instant gratification.
TRAPEZE ARTIST x LANU MOANA filly