Sensational Speed - Won a 1000m turf Group One in 54.21 sec
One of the most popular sprinters to ever race in South America, ESTAMBUL swept all before him as a 3YO when he defeated older horses to win Group One races at 1000m and 1200m. He recorded sensational times on several occasions, breaking 55 seconds for 1000m in three different Group races, including a record breaking Group One victory over 1000m in 54.21 seconds on the turf. Estambul was so dominant that he was able to defeat the older sprinters over 1200m by 4 lengths – running right away. Another of Estambul’s top performances saw him gallant in defeat. Carrying 59.5kg’s Estambul sprawled out of the barrier missing the jump by 2 lengths. Nevertheless he finished the 1000m race resolutely, going down by ½ head in 54.76 seconds and so narrowly denied another Group One victory. He was voted Champion Sprinter of Argentina as a 3YO against the older horses, having left no doubt as to his courage, consistency, and class.

A Nureyev line sprinter just like Fasliyev & Stravinsky

The NUREYEV sire line has never been stronger. His young sprinting sire sons Fasliyev and Stravinsky took the world by storm in 2003. Fasliyev (a dual Group One winner over 1200m) became Champion European Freshman sire and in doing so created a world record number of 2YO winners (34) in his first crop, siring seven stakes winners including a Group One winner. Stravinsky (a dual Group One winner over 1000m & 1200m at 3 years) became Champion USA Freshman sire, also siring a large number (27) of individual winners including a Group One winner.

In the Southern Hemisphere (to Apr 2008) Stravinsky has already sired 24 individual Stakes winners including Champion filly Serenade Rose, dual Group One winner Keeninsky, Group One winner Captivate, dual Group Two winner Ballet Society, the 2YO stars Plagiarize-G2 & Hips Don’t Lie-G2, and Magic Millions winner Oratorio. Stravinsky’s world wide totals stand at 649 starters, 433 winners & 46 SW. Stravinsky also sired the top price yearling sold at Karaka 2006 – a colt which made $2.2million.

Kitwood is a royally bred French Group One winning son of Nureyev
KITWOOD was a high class racehorse winning 5 races in France & USA for Sheikh Mohammed. His victories included the Prix Jean Prat-G1, and he also finished an unlucky third in the Hollywood Derby-G1. Kitwood is a true equine blue-blood from one of the world’s most commercially respected families – his dam the remarkable racemare Kittiwake, an 18 time multiple stakeswinning daughter of the great Sea-Bird. Kittiwake represents one of America’s best families, her first two dams both high class stakeswinners who had also left a multitude of stakes performers among their descendants. Kittiwake was a close relative of the Champion mare Life’s Magic who was in the money an incredible 25 times at Group One level during an extraordinary career in America in the early 1980’s.
 

In 1985 KITTIWAKE and her daughters Miss Oceana & Larida were part of one of the most famous dispersal sales of all time. Kittiwake was sold for $3.8million - an incredible price for the then 17 year old mare. More was to follow as her 5 times Group One winning daughter Miss Oceana sold for a world record $7million, her 3 times Group winning daughter Larida made $4million, and a weanling filly from Larida sold for a world record weanling price of $2.5million. This was far from the end for this amazing family as Kittiwake produced the Group One winning Kitwood in 1989, and the record priced weanling filly became the Group One winner Magic of Life.

SEA-BIRD, the dam sire of Kitwood, is widely regarded as the greatest racehorse of the 20th Century. His Timeform Rating of 145 is still the highest Timeform assessment ever given. Retired to stud in America where he died at a young age, Sea-Bird’s stud career was significant enough to produce 33 stakes winners and 5 Group One winners from only 172 living foals. Among his best produce were the outstanding mare Allez France, Arctic Tern, & Kittiwake herself. As a brood mare sire Sea-Bird was very influential – his daughters producing 50 stakeswinners including the Champion Assert.

KITWOOD is one of Argentina’s leading stallions; he has sired two internationally recognized Champions in Estambul and Paraca, and has five Group One winners among his 17 stakes winners. He also has a winners to runners ratio of approximately 72%. His daughter Paraca is a triple Group One winner in South Africa and has become a recent group stakes winner in Australia, again highlighting the suitability of the sire line to Australian racing conditions.

The NUREYEV sireline has created an impact in Australia over the past few seasons which has been highlighted by the outstanding performances of Starcraft-G1 (by Soviet Star), Serenade Rose-G1 (by Stravinsky), Special Harmony-G1 (by Spinning World), Mr Sandgroper-G1 (by Peintre Celebre), Ballybleue (by Peintre Celebre), Thorn Park-G1 (by Spinning World), Russian Pearl-G1 (by Soviet Star), & In A Bound (by Ashkalani) as well as the exciting start from Stravinsky. Nureyev’s successful international sire sons include Theatrical and Polar Falcon, whose son Pivotal is one of England’s leading young sires.

PIVOTAL is an interesting comparison to Estambul, as he is also a Group One winning sprinting grand son of Nureyev, winning his Group One over 1000m in a fast 56.53 seconds. This young sire has made a sensational start to his stud career with winners to runners of 67%, 51 stakes winners, and nine individual Group One winners.

Estambul’s dam line is one of Argentina’s best black type families
ESPANTADA – is the dam of Estambul & also of an exciting 3YO filly this season named ESTATUILLA. This half sister to Estambul has already displayed amazing talent, winning four Group Three races in Argentina last season including a 1000m race in 54.81 seconds to prove that talent runs in this very fast family, she was also placed third at Group One level against the older sprinters. Espantada is an unraced daughter of the dual Group One winner Espadana who was an outstanding race mare, running first or second in twelve Group races. Espadana’s dam Empiric is responsible for a modern day dynasty in South America and South Africa (where South American horses are keenly sought). Five daughters of Empiric have combined to produce dozens of black type performing descendents. One of Espadana’s sisters Elysee produced the amazing mare Empress Club (Five International Champion awards & seven Group One wins among her 15 wins from 20 starts in South Africa & USA, and herself the dam of Group winner Azouz Pasha in England). Elysee also produced the Champion 2YO Ecurie, who finished in the money in eight Group One races. Another of Espadana’s sisters Emboscada was the second dam of Tex Fina (Four International Champion awards & a triple Group One winner) and her half brother Tucson (Champion Miler in Sth America in 2003). Yet another sister, the stakes winning Escolastica has produced a black type dynasty including Escoleta Fitz, the Champion mare of South Africa in 2002 and a dual Group One winner.

OUR NATIVE – the dam sire of Estambul was a top class race horse winning 14 races including the Flamingo Stakes-G1, Monmouth S-G1, & Ohio Derby-G2. He was also third in the Kentucky Derby. The son of three time Champion US sire Exclusive Native quickly became a highly successful sire, siring 46 SW of over $23million. As a broodmare sire he has also been very successful, his daughters producing 80 stakes winners to date. One of his best sons, the triple G1 winner Zoffany became a successful Australian sire for Segenhoe Stud, where he left 70% winners to runners and his 18 SW included the brilliant sprinter Clan O’Sullivan.
 

Estambul - an exciting sire prospect of the highest quality
ESTAMBUL offers a unique pedigree. From one of the world’s most influential sire lines which is also becoming highly successful under Australian race conditions – his sire has one of the most commercially acceptable pedigrees the world has known whilst his dam hails from one of the most dominantly successful families that South America has produced.
Offering a race record of the highest calibre with Group One victories over both 1000m & 1200m, Estambul was able to firmly establish his amazing talent with several exceptional displays of raw speed. However, viewing Estambul’s race video will establish that he always ran home very strongly - indicating that he may well have achieved even greater glory if his connections had ever started him beyond 1200m.

Estambul is a particularly attractive individual, a quality stallion with a lot of presence. A very powerful horse, it is easy to see where his speed originates. He has good, correct leg conformation; and offers a lovely front with an attractive head, to set off a tremendous shoulder and hind quarter. His temperament is also excellent.
It is therefore of no surprise that Estambul’s first crop 2YO’s have quickly shown ability. From the time they went to the breakers in mid 2007 the reports have been very strong, leading to a full book of 123 mares in 2007. His first runner Waddington has demonstrated durability, soundness and consistency in producing 3 wins and 3 placings by mid February of his 2YO season. His second starter is the flying QLD filly Magnificent Dancer who won her first 2 starts and disposed of a quality field in the $100,000 Toowoomba Magic Millions Preview. Another winner is the smart Turquia, a Caulfield winner and stakes placed second in the Walter Brown Stakes. To mid April 2008 Estambul is currently running fourth on the Australian First Season Sires list with four starters for three winners, and all three of these 2YO’s are multiple winners already – further details are available in the Estambul progeny record section. Photo’s of Estambul’s progeny can be inspected in the Estambul photo gallery.