The secret is out on Restrepo

From a somewhat forgotten horse Restrepo is all of a sudden back on the lips of both race enthusiasts and breeders alike. The one-time harness racing superstar racehorse has burst onto the siring scene through his exceptional daughter Relentless Me. 

A closer look at his siring record, however, paints a picture which would leave many higher profile stallions envious. 

A sales topping yearling with both movie star looks and a brilliant pedigree, he didn’t disappoint on the track. A dual Group 1 winner and prolific classic and country cups winner, he raced against the top echelon his entire career. Earning over half a million dollars on the track, he forged a reputation as a genuine top line pacer who possessed dazzling high speed and an unquestionable will-to -win. 

A magnificent career sadly restricted by injury, saw him compete at the highest level achieving Group 1 glory in the Ballarat Cup, compete in a Miracle Mile and Inter Dominion Grand Final, a feat only reserved for the elite. 

Ruled out with injury for his seven-year-old season, Restrepo turned his hand to stud duties. Serving a modest book with little interest from breeders, resulted in just nine foals. Of these nine foals, seven raced, resulting in all seven being winners including very talented pacer and Southern Cross series winner, Urbadboy.  

After a brief return to the track where he once again mixed it with the best, he returned to stud duties only attracting a handful of mares. This crop consisted of just four foals, which are current three-year-old’s, resulting in three winners, including outstanding filly Relentless Me.

The bay/brown filly, out of a lightly raced Presidential Ball mare Ballygena, has already won at Group level with an easy victory in the Tasmania Oaks and banked just shy of $100,000.

This star filly was dominant in the second heat of the Victorian Oaks on Saturday night (Oct. 1) and has sparked further interest in her little known sire. She was a quality filly last season at two, making finals of both the Vicbred Super Series and Breeders Crown, and she has stepped up further this year to be rated alongside the best fillies in Australasia.  

This majestic stallion can boast siring statistics rarely seen. From his first two crops of just 13 foals, he has sired 10 runners for 10 winners, including two Group winners. From these two crops his average earnings per starter exceeds $36,000 and average earnings per foal is over $28,000. 

Restrepo has found a new home at Tipperary Equine in Young (NSW) and is set to continue his impressive siring career.  

When questioned studmaster Luke Primmer had this to say about his new arrival:

“When he first became available I didn’t know a great deal about his accomplishments at stud. I was shocked when I looked up his siring record. His numbers are quite incredible. He was from an era when colonial horses weren’t given the attention or respect when going to stud as they get today. He obviously didn’t get the patronage he deserved but he is only 13 years of age so in many respects he is in his prime.”

Restrepo is set to serve a bigger book this year than his entire siring career combined.

“The response has been good purely off the back of his progeny’s performance. Breeders who have them want more of them, that’s a great sign,” Primmer stated. 

Restrepo is undoubtedly unbeatable value standing at just $2,200 and with Harness Racing NSW breeding incentives it makes breeding to him a very attractive option. It’s no wonder breeders are keen to book their mares this season.

Restrepo is available for all Breed NSW incentives as well as the Colonial Stallion Rebate and progeny will be entirely NSW Breeders Blue eligible.

by Peter Wharton, for Harnesslink