Raging Bull ready for fresh start in NSW

With colonial bred sires now having established themselves in no uncertain manner in the top bracket as sires, Raging Bull, who is standing this season at the South West Slopes Veterinary Clinic, of Dr Lauren Eggins, at Cootamundra (NSW), has stud credentials second to none.

Raging Bull, who was first at the stud in New Zealand, has already sired more than 40 individual winners in Australasia from limited stud chances. 

His first Australian crop will race as two-year-olds next season. A yearling colt by Raging Bull fetched $42,000 at the Australian Pacing Gold Melbourne sale in February – more than 10 times his service fee.

Among his winners have been the WA Pacing Cup hero Wildwest 1:52.8 ($619,218), the NSW Raith Memorial victor Our Bare Knuckle 1:51.5 ($100,340), the good Melton winner Raging Whitebait 1:55.2 ($133,715), the exciting Queensland youngster Waikaka Magic (1:51.8), who won his first four starts at Albion Park, Give Me A Minute 1:52 ($110,118) and the exported Princess Holly 1:52.6 ($110,167). 

To date Raging Bull’s progeny have amassed more than $2.2 million in stakemoney with an amazing 70 percent winners-to-starters ratio.

He is now making his mark as a broodmare sire with the $500,000 NZ The Velocity 3YO winner Better Knuckle Up 1:53.3 ($299,348) and Blazing Knuckles (1:57.8) among his credits.

Raging Bull, who raced only as a two, three and four-year-old, was a top racehorse in his own right.

From 10 starts he won five and was five times placed for $115,581 in stakes. He was not extensively raced because of a leg injury but showed that he was up to the best horses of his time, being beaten by only three horses during his career in Christen Me ($2.7 million), Smolda ($2.4 million) and Ideal Scott ($842,000).

Raging Bull is a quality individual bred on a classic cross of blood – that of Christian Cullen his sire and Artsplace his maternal sire.

Christian Cullen, the sire of Raging Bull, was the leading NZ sire on five occasions and the premier broodmare seven times. A champion pacer himself, with a bankroll of $1.2 million, Christian Cullen won seven races at Group 1 level including the NZ Cup, Miracle Mile and Auckland Cup and was the NZ Horse of the Year and Grand Circuit Champion.

Christian Cullen has matched his greatness as a racehorse in the siring field, and now his sons such as Alta Christiano are achieving distinctions of the same order.

Raging Bull is unquestionably one of his best bred sons, being out of the Artsplace mare San Sophia (1:52.6), a sister to the USA 3YO Filly and 4YO Mare of the Year Galleria (1:49.2), who retired as America’s richest ever racemare with $1.8 million on her card.

San Sophia was the dam of 10 individual winners with nine inside 2:00 and three $100,000 earners.

Raging Bull, a rich bay in colour, stands 16 hands and possesses an outstanding temperament which is also evident in his stock.

“He is such a gentleman. He’s a pleasure to have around. I really love him,” Dr Eggins said.

Raging Bull’s service fee is $3,300 including GST with discounts for NSW Standardbred Breeders Association members, multiple mares and local breeders. His progeny are eligible for the NSW Breeders Challenge and Colonial Stallion Bonus and can be dually registered with the other States breeding schemes.

For bookings or further information phone Dr Lauren Eggins on 0400 871 509 or email laureneggins2@outlook.com

by Peter Wharton, for Harnesslink