Legion
Legion is a bay horse foaled in 2001 by Redoute’s Choice, from the top producer Military Belle by Without Fear. Legion has a lovely head with a bold eye & deep jowl. An excellent length of rein, strong shoulder, deep girth and long barrel, combined with good bone and correct, clean leg conformation make Legion a particularly striking individual. An attractive and athletic type, he caught the eye of Lee Freedman as a yearling, his appeal encouraging Freedman to remain as a part owner throughout his career. From the beginning Legion showed well above average ability – winning his first start by an easy 3½ lengths. His second start resulted in an excellent placing behind the talented Mr Martini, who won the Bill Stutt Stakes-Gr2 at his next start. Lee Freedman then chose Legion to represent the stable at the 2004 Sydney Spring Carnival, earmarking him as a serious Triple Crown candidate. Sent out well supported in the betting in the Gloaming Stakes-Gr2, Legion suffered a knee injury during the running, finishing unplaced behind Al Maher, Savabeel & Outback Prince. Although an attempt was made to return Legion to the racetrack the decision was made to retire the horse to stud rather than risk further serious injury.

Sireline:
REDOUTE’S CHOICE - A superbly bred horse Redoute’s Choice made headlines from the beginning, winning the Veuve Cliquot Stakes on debut and following up with a sensational victory in the Blue Diamond one week later. Sent to Sydney as favourite for the Golden Slipper he was a controversial late scratching on arrival at the track due to illness. Following a spell he resumed with a dominant victory over older horses in the Manikato Stks-Gr1, and then went on to defeat Testa Rossa in an epic dual in the Caulfield Guineas-Gr1. Sold to Arrowfield Stud for a reported $10million Redoute’s Choice retired with a career record of 10 starts, 5 wins, 1 second, 2 thirds, 1 fourth & 1 fifth for $1,567,000. Four of his wins were in Group One races, and 8 of his 10 race starts were at Group One level.

REDOUTE’S CHOICE - has been a revelation at stud - (to Mar ’08) he is sire of 318 runners; 229 winners; 39 stakes winners; 12 Group One winners; progeny earnings of $36 million. In 2005 Redoute’s Choice sired over 20 individual 2YO winners, including 10 individual Stakes Winners – incredibly he sired the winners of the Golden Slipper, Blue Diamond, AJC Sires, Magic Million, & Black Opal, each with a different 2YO as well as providing many of the placegetters as well. In 2006 he sired the quinella in the Blue Diamond (Nadeem & Miss Finland) & another Golden Slipper winner (Miss Finland). His progeny have also trained on well at 3 & 4 years led by Group One Classic winners Miss Finland (VRC Oaks), Anamato (SAJC Aust’n Oaks), Redoute’s Dancer (NZ Derby), Gods Own (Caulfield Guineas), plus Lotteria (Flight Stks & Empire Rose Stks) and Snitzel (Oakleigh Plate). This amazing dominance has led to an unprecedented demand for his progeny, his 2008 Easter Yearling Sale average of $791,000. His service fee has risen from his 2004 fee of $44,000 to a current 2007 fee of $330,000.

REDOUTE’S CHOICE is by the Danzig stallion DANEHILL. His dam is Shantha’s Choice, by CANNY LAD from Dancing Show, by NIJINSKY.
 

DANEHILL - The European Champion 3YO Sprinter of 1989, Danehill's racecourse achievements included winning the Ladbroke Sprint Cup-G1 (6f). At stud Danehill has become the greatest modern day influence seen by Australian breeders. He has been Champion Australian Sire nine times, Champion Juvenile sire six times, Champion French Sire, Champion European Juvenile Sire four times. To Mar ’08 Danehill is sire of 342 Stakes Winners of $362 million, including 69 Group One winners. His successful sire sons include Flying Spur, Commands, Danzero, Danewin, Rock Of Gibraltar, Danehill Dancer, Danasinga, Tiger Hill, Desert King, Lion Hunter & Catbird, however Redoute’s Choice has now been widely recognised as the obvious heir apparent to his famous sire.

SHANTHA’S CHOICE has produced two Group One winners to date, with Redoute’s full brother Platinum Scissors also successful at the highest level. She is a daughter of the Golden Slipper winner CANNY LAD 551 winners include 43 SW (9 Gr1) of $37.6 million. Canny Lad is rapidly becoming recognised as an emerging broodmare sire influence – his daughters producing Desert War, Kusi, Blur, Sarah Vee, Clothilde & Mnemosyne, as well as Redoute’s Choice & Platinum Scissors.

DANCING SHOW has also produced two Group One winners in Hurricane Sky & Umatilla – both of whom have become very successful sires. Her daughter Show Dancing has also produced this seasons outstanding 3YO Gr1 winner Al Maher. Dancing Show is a daughter of NIJINSKY who is widely regarded as Northern Dancer’s finest son. Nijinsky was UK Horse of the Year at 3 yrs, his 11 wins included the English Derby & 2000 Guineas. At stud he was both Champion Sire & Champion Broodmare Sire – his progeny featured 156 SW including Derby winners like Lammtara, Ferdinand, Golden Fleece, Caerleon & Shahrastani. His daughters have to date produced 245 SW of $185 million including champions like Fantastic Light, Flawlessly, Sky Beauty, Java Gold, Rubiano & Bahri.

Damline:
MILITARY BELLE by WITHOUT FEAR from Reticella by IN THE PURPLE from Frill by AGRICOLA.

MILITARY BELL has already produced the outstanding galloper General Nediym. This half brother to Legion was a brilliant racehorse, at 2 yrs his six starts produced 5 wins including the Magic Millions, and a 4th in the Golden Slipper. At 3 yrs his 10 starts resulted in 7 wins (Newmarket Hcp / Lightning Stakes/ Stan Fox Stakes, Carlton Cup etc) and 2 thirds (Caulfield Guineas, Doomben 10,000). He then trained on at 4 yrs to add the Magic Millions Cup over 1400m for a career record of 13 wins & $2,128,000.

Military Belle’s sire WITHOUT FEAR was an instant stud success, creating a world record for the number of individual 2YO winners in his first crop (35 winners). A stakes winner himself in France this elegant brown horse established himself as a prolific sire of winners, his 51 stakes winners including Desirable (Gr1 Lightning Stakes as a 2YO against the older horses), Unaware (VRC Derby), Brave Show (VRC Sires), but it is as a broodmare sire that Without Fear has particularly left his mark – his daughters producing 61 SW of $39.8 million to date including General Nediym, Brawny Spirit, Magic Flute, Mighty Avenger, San Luis, Solo Show, etc.

Legion’s half brother GENERAL NEDIYM has also proved to be an instant success at stud, siring brilliant filly Regimental Gal in his first crop. Regimental Gal emulated her sire in winning the Magic Millions at 2 years, and also became a Group One winner in the Lightning Stakes as a 3YO. To Apr ’08 General Nediym is sire of 367 runners, 223 winners, 19 stakes winners of $15.2 million. In recent years General Nediym’s 2YO’s included the outstanding I Got Chills, as well as the stakes winners Follow The Till and Nediym’s Glow. His 2006 yearlings included an Adelaide Million sale topping $340,000 colt, who now races as the stakes winner Victory Chant. His 2007 Gold Coast MM yearlings averaged $168,000, with two yearlings selling for $350,000 each. Last year 3YO son Ambitious General won the Gr2 Autumn Classic, before running two outstanding second places in the Rosehill Guineas and AJC Derby. To April ’08 he leads the individual 2YO winners list with twelve winners including stakes winners Siderius, Siennas Fury and Delta Girl.

RETICELLA the second dam of Legion is a ¾ sister-in-blood to Ultraviolet, the dam of former top racehorse Military Plume. Military Plume won the Australian Guineas-Gr1 before a successful stud career producing 25 SW to date (Northwood Plume, Luna Tudor, Constant Flight, Princess Plume etc). He is also starting to emerge as a promising broodmare sire, his daughters already producing Spectatorial, Grand Zulu, Yakama, etc. Reticella was a daughter of the major NZ stamina influence IN THE PURPLE whose progeny included Melbourne Cup winner Gold and Black & Caulfield Cup winner How Now. In The Purple has also been a grand broodmare sire influence, his daughters producing excellent stayers like Popsy, Palace Revolt, She’s Fun, Heart Ruler, etc. Reticella is also a half sister to Malt, the dam of mighty mare Horlicks whose 17 wins included a memorable international victory in the Japan Cup-Gr1. Horlicks in turn is the dam of Brew, winner of the 2000 Melbourne Cup.

FRILL the third dam of Legion produced the Gr1 winner Interstellar, as well as SW Fluted, and Malt (dam of Horlicks). Frill is a full sister to the class stayers Swift General & Agrifo, and ½ sister to Laelia (grand dam of Laebeel). Her sire AGRICOLA was also an influential stamina stallion, producing major race winners like General Command, Roman Consul, Lowland, Farmers Daughter, Visit, Persian Bronze etc. As a broodmare sire Agricola also excelled being dam sire of outstanding gallopers like, Show Ego, Dayana, Grand Cidium, Tang, Prince Of All, Interstellar, Bottled Sunshine, Lucozade, Anyone Home, etc.

FROTH the fourth dam of Legion, was an outstanding racemare – a multiple Gr1 winner, her 11 wins were from 5f to 2miles & included the Auckland Cup, NZ Oaks, & Great Northern Oaks. At stud Froth became a significant matron, producing a major dynasty which contains a fascinating blend of sprinting & staying results. Her influence is such that her descendents performance’s fill an entire page. This can be seen in the full pedigree of Legion contained in this website.

LEGION is a very exciting stallion prospect. A magnificent type of horse with a terrific temperament and attitude, he had enormous natural ability. A son of Australia’s most exciting stallion, Legion represents a sire line which has been dominant in Australia through many years via Redoute’s Choice – Danehill – Danzig – Northern Dancer. He also comes from a proven stallion producing female family, being a half brother to the brilliant sire General Nediym and closely related to successful stallion Military Plume. The versatility of his dam line which has produced major winners from Magic Millions to Melbourne Cups in recent years proves the suitability of the bloodlines for Australian racing conditions.