A brace of top-quality juveniles by Artie Schiller (USA) have captured two of the most coveted Grade 1 contests on the U.S. racing calendar following memorable victories by My Conquestadory and We Miss Artie in the Darley Alcibiades Stakes (Gr.1) and Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity Stakes (Gr.1) respectively.

Both US$400,000 events staged at Keeneland over 1700 metres within 24 hours of each other, the time honoured Alcibiades Stakes witnessed My Conquestadory record the first leg of the double with a scintillating performance after settling next-to-last in a field of 12 runners as the 6/5 favourite. Asked to improve her position around the second of two turns, My Conquestadory cut a swathe through her opposition to be on terms with the leaders at the top of the straight before racing on to a breathtaking one and three-quarter length victory.

Winning rider Eurico Rosa da Silva claimed after the win: “She didn't break sharp, but she was very, very relaxed. I was worried in the middle of the turn because there were so many fillies in front of me but every time I need her, she was just galloping. I was waiting for a hole, and every time it opened a little bit, I put her in. In the stretch when we had a free run, she just ran so easy. She's a very nice filly.”

Remarkably, the Breeders’ Futurity Stakes was won in very similar fashion by a son of Artie Schiller the very next day. After taking up a position just worse than midfield during the early and middle stages, We Miss Artie made his winning move at almost exactly the same stage as My Conquestadory had 24 hours beforehand and also had the feature contest won very early in to the home stretch. The dark bay or brown colt went on to score by two and three-quarter lengths.

Winning jockey John Velasquez said: “He had a little bit of trouble into the first turn, had to steady him out of there, then I gave him a chance up the backstretch. Going to the second turn we saved a little bit of ground. Then when I pulled him out, he saw the light and that's when he started running.”

The victories of My Conquestadory and We Miss Artie took Artie Schiller into the top-5 stallions on the 2013 Leading 2YO Sires in North America listing. They are now also both qualified for the feature fillies and colts divisions of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile events to be staged at Santa Anita Park on November 2.


The best is yet to come…

Emirates Park CEO Trevor Lobb says that the US Grade 1 juvenile double recorded by Artie Schiller illustrates the superior standard of broodmare the stallion received after making such a good start with his first crops to race.

“The first few seasons of representation saw Artie Schiller make a very favourable impression and resulted in him being supported with a superior quality of mare in more recent seasons,” explained Lobb.

“The same thing happened in Australia. His first foals born in 2008 included the stakes winners Mr Commons, Annie's Beauty, Bear's Chill and Irish Art in North America, as well as Laser Hawk (Rosehill Gns-G1), Big Chill, Secret Liaison and Moving Money here in Australia. They were all responsible for breeders sending a better calibre of broodmare to him over the past few seasons.”

In closing, Lobb predicted with confidence: “One thing I am sure of is that Artie Schiller has bigger and better results in store in both North America and Australia. Last weekend's results at Keeneland were only the start of things to come.”

For further information:-

Trevor Lobb 0418 240 230
Bryan Carlson 0415 275 885
Mike Becker 0412 538 155