Redoute's Choice - Bo Dapper
2008 Service Fee - $5,500

Stromberg Carlson

Speed Defines Stromberg Carlson

When asked to define what qualities he looked for in a sire, legendary stallion maker Bull Hancock replied, "speed, speed and more speed."

Breeders who adhere to that principal would do well to look at Stromberg Carlson, as this talented son of Redoute's Choice sped over 1100m at Rosehill in 1:03.85 as a spring three-year-old to set a race record.

But speed of course is a family trait as his sire won four Gr.1 events including the Blue Diamond Stakes-Gr.1 (and was favourite for the Golden Slipper-Gr.1 when withdrawn on race eve with travel sickness) and his dam, by Golden Slipper winner Sir Dapper, produced the six-times Gr.1-winning sprinter and now successful sire Testa Rossa.

In addition to his record-breaking win at Rosehill, Stromberg Carlson also showed his pace against the best two and three-year-olds in the eastern states.

He was placed over 1150m at Randwick second up at two before heading north for the Doomben Slipper-LR, flashing home to run third (half-length) behind Serenote and Birthday Bash (1350m in 1:19.44) after getting well back.

The Bob Thomsen-trained colt tackled Gr.1 company next time out in the T.J. Smith (1600m) at Eagle Farm, finishing fourth to Outback Prince, Star Shiraz and Lords a Leaping (three lengths).

Stromberg Carlson was the first by his sire to retire to stud in Queensland (2005) and looked after 129 mares in his initial season. His first crop juveniles race in 2008-09 after being well received at auctions earlier this year.

Few horses have made such an immediate and far-reaching impact at stud as Stromberg Carlson's sire Redoute's Choice (Danehill (USA)-Shantha's Choice by Canny Lad). The Champion Australian Sire of 2005-06 as well as being Champion Sire of Two-Year-Olds and Leading First Crop Sire, this four-times Gr.1 winner (1200m-1600m) has 41 stakes winners, 13 of them at Gr.1 level and including Miss Finland, Lotteria, Snitzel, Stratum, Undoubtedly, Fashion�s Afield and Lotteria.

He has 11.1% stakes winners to starters and by early September 2008 had 260 winners from 371 starters (70.1%) of 647 races and $38.495m and commands a fee of $330,000 at Arrowfield this season.

Although she was unraced, Bo Dapper, dam of Stromberg Carlson, has a speed pedigree, being by Golden Slipper winner Sir Dapper (a son of Golden Slipper winner Vain) and from the Karrakatta Plate-Gr.2 winner Bodega (Without Fear (FR)-Salon by Fortino).

Bo Dapper's five foals to race are all winners and include Testa Rossa (Perugino (USA)) whose 13 wins (900m-1600m) netted $3m and included six at Gr.1 level, along with Listed winner and Stradbroke Handicap-Gr.1 third, Brighter Scene (Scenic (IRE)), a winner of 15 races and $405,000.
Bodega, who won three races at 900m-1000m at two, is a sister to Fulham Park Plate-LR winner War Chest and Dequetteville Stakes-LR winner Private Show.

Their dam Salon (GB) won over 1100m at two in England and is by brilliant sprinter Fortino (Grey Sovereign-Ranavalo by Relic), winner of the Prix de l�Abbaye and Prix de Meautry and sire of 19 stakes winners including Caro.

Stromberg Carlson's sixth dam Monsoon (Umidwar) is a great-grandaughter of influential mare Rose Red, whose descendants include Attila (GB), Bustino, Larkspur, Acropolis, Alycidon and Agricola (GB).

Mares by Best Western (whose damsire Raimondo (GB), is a brother to Fortino) and his son Ivory's Irish should work well with Stromberg Carlson, who is inbred 6fx6f to Relic.

Mares by Show a Heart, Vice Regal (NZ) and Bletchingly could also suit as could inbreeding to Vain and his sire Wilkes (FR).

Redoute's Choice hails from the Best in Show family and inbreeding to this mare is proving very successful. Breeders could try mares by Umatilla and Hurricane Sky (Half-brothers to Redoute's Choice) or those by Last Tycoon (IRE), Spinning World (USA) or Xaar (GB).

Bo Dapper's affinity with the three-quarter brothers Perugino and Sadler's Wells (sire of Scenic) should tempt breeders to access mares by these sires and others from this family including Geiger Counter (USA), Yeats (USA), Nureyev and Fairy King (USA).

A fast son of Redoute's Choice, himself a son of nine-times Champion Australian Sire Danehill (USA), and a half-brother to a champion sprinter in Testa Rossa, Stromberg Carlson, who stands 16 hands, offers breeders great value at $5500 at Raheen.

Stromberg Carlson first crop yearlings sold to $70000 and averaged $27000 at the March Magic Millions Sale.

David Bay