Reaan
The 2008 Blue Diamond winner is the first Australian Group 1 winning son of Hussonet to go to stud.
> Group 1 winner of the Blue Diamond Stakes.
> First Australian bred Group 1 winner by champion sire Hussonet to Stud.
> Out of Group 2 winning Danehill mare Ribe.
> A magnificent type ($375,000 Easter yearling purchase).
Considering that Reaan was looked upon early as the ideal Guineas horse, it was especially pleasing to see him show such precociousness as a 2 year-old.
As an October 2yo, Reaan defeated Golden Slipper placegetter Portillo when winning on debut, before running second in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate behind Exceedingly Good. Following a spell, an AJC Sires Produce and Champagne Stakes campaign beckoned, however after an all-the-way 5 length victory in the Blue Diamond Preview, plans quickly centred on Victoria's Premier 2 year-old event. Going into the race without a run for 4 weeks, Reaan claimed the 2008 Blue Diamond in an effort that saw his jockey, 4-time winner of the race, Dwayne Dunn describe him as "the real deal" and trainer David Hayes speak of his value as "priceless".
Travelling to Sydney, a combination of Heavy tracks and racing on the opposite leg contributed to his unsuccessful Golden Slipper bid. In the spring of 2008 Reaan was admitted to the Werribee Vet Clinic with severe pneumonia. The prognosis was cautious at best with ultrasounds revealing large portions of his right lung were severely compromised. Fortunately, Reaan survived and consequently had one more start as a 3YO this autumn before being retired for stud duties.
Reaan was retired with a career record of 8 starts for 3 wins and 1 second with more than $750,000 in prizemoney earnings.
Reaan's sire Hussonet was the leading sire in Chile 7 times in a row (2000-2006) and leading second season sire in Australia (2007/08). He has produced 20 champions and 26 individual Group 1 winners. Hussonet stood at Arrowfield in 2008 for $137,500 and his Australian progeny include the likes of Weekend Hussler, Miss Darcey, Rios, Fist Of Fury, Husson Lightning, Huxssen, Eagle Falls, etc.
Reaan's dam is the Group 2 Moonee Valley Oaks winning Danehill mare, Ribe, who amassed over $439,000 in prizemoney. The Moonee Valley Oaks is a race blessed with an incredible honour roll, especially from 1998-2004 (the only period of time that it was run over 2040m). Winners in chronological order during this era were: Kensington Palace/Champagne (dead heat), Sunline, Hill Of Grace, Dandify, Elegant Fashion, Ribe and Special Harmony.
Danehill's feats as a sire in the modern era are unparalleled, and he is now making a distinct impression as a broodmare sire. His daughters have produced no less than 103 stakeswinners, 21 of which are Group 1 winners.
Reaan's bloodlines are the result of some meticulous breeding. His first 2 dams have produced a total of six foals. Five of these have raced of which three were stakes winners, while the other 2 are stakes performed.
Reaan himself was a $375,000 purchase from the Easter Yearling Sale. He was the 3rd highest priced Hussonet yearling of 2007 behind the promising gallopers Miss Darcey and Fist Of Fury. Reaan was bought by Angus Gold on behalf of Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Stud.
The Group One winning son of Hussonet is the latest addition to an impressive list of Shadwell colts to go to stud in Australasia. At Talaq, Fraar and Jeune all made their way to Lindsay Park Stud at the end of their illustrious racing careers.
Other graduates of the Hayes stable to have worn the famous blue and white Shadwell colours include Zabeel, Istidaad, Almaarad, Ihtiram, Tawqeet and Nadeem. Few other trainer / owner partnerships have had such an impact on the stallion ranks in Australasia.
Reaan will stand for $16,500 inc. GST at Lindsay Park Stud in 2009. As is Shadwell's policy, his book will be limited to 85 mares.