Peak to stand at Mountain View Stud

Peak, the only trotter ever to win a Group 1 race in both hemispheres, and who was firstly at the stud in New Zealand, has joined the stallion roster at Mountain View Stud, Dunnstown, near Ballarat.

His fee is a modest $2,200 including GST.

Mountain View studmaster Shane Murphy said that he is very excited to be standing Peak in Victoria for the coming season.

“Peak comes with impressive credentials, being the only trotter to come to Australasia who has won a Group 1 in both hemispheres. We feel that he will fill a niche for breeders that are looking for a very fertile stallion with chilled semen throughout Australia at an affordable fee of $2,200, particularly with the $12,000 Vicbred bonus on offer.”

With his oldest stock only five-year-olds, Peak has made a solid start to his stud career. From his first NZ crop he sired capable trotters in Invictus, winner of the NZ Cambridge Gold Cup and $92,530 in stakes, the Addington and Auckland winner Doff Your Cap (6 wins and $80,854), the recent Addington winner Kowhai Sundown and the Menangle winners Aorangi (1:58.1) and The Golden Lion (1:57.3).

While his second crop produced trotters the calibre of the Victoria Derby heat winner and NSW Derby placegetter Gimondi (1:57.1), the Menangle winner Allaboutthemoment (1:58.2), Chinski, who has won five races, and Set Me Free (1:59.7).

The smart three-year-olds Patriot Stride, a runaway winner at Melton recently, the Addington winner Maui (1:59.3) and Igniting Stride, the Group placegetter Peakz Luck and the Auckland victor Kelvinz Luck have been other winners by Peak from his first NZ crops.

Peak has not been extensively represented in Australia to this stage, but from eight starters he has left four winners including the brilliant Melton winner Summerhill (2:00.1) and the Victorian juvenile winners Ollie Jack, Little Tedey and Sierra Kea.

Peak was a top racehorse himself, winning more than $320,000, and he won the Group 1 Danish Derby as a four-year-old and a further seven races during his European campaign.

Exported to NZ as an seven-year-old, Peak raced on only three occasions for two outstanding wins – both at Group level – before a leg injury halted his career. He won the Group 3 Ashburton Flying Mile in which he took his record of 1:57.6 and, a fortnight later, the Group 1 $80,000 NZ Trotting Free-for-all in a 1:57.7 rate over 2000 metres, in which he defeated The Fiery Ginga, Vulcan, Cyclone U Bolt and co.

Driver Anthony Butt said: “Peak is the most clean gaited trotter I have ever driven. The perfect trotter – speed, gait, heart and manners.”

A commanding chestnut, Peak’s pedigree combines the best of European and North American bloodlines.

He is a son of the great Ganymede, twice premier sire in France and the sire of the 2019 Eliltopp winner Dijon.

On his dam’s side, Peak belongs to a family which has made a real impact on the European racing scene. His dam, Elegant Lady (1:57.6), is by the dual US Breeders Crown champion and leading sire Sugarcane Hanover 1:54.6 ($1.7 million), and traces back to the American mare Black Fanny, the ancestress of Group 1 winners such as Giant Superman, Bonita L, Glad Palema and Glad Suit.

Peak is a Speedy Crown line horse – that which produced Muscle Hill – from a top maternal family, and boasts three strong crosses of the blood of Hall of Fame immortal Star’s Pride.

He should prove an ideal outcross to mares boasting Sundon, Majestic Son, Pegasus Spur, Earl and Dream Vacation blood.

By Peter Wharton for Harnesslink