The sudden and tragic death on Tuesday of
NORTHERN METEOR the young sire son of Encosta de Lago as a result of complications after a colic attack at Widden Stud was highlighted on the final day of the season when at Warwick Farm, Tarangower scored impressively.
Tarangower’s win allowed NORTHERN METEOR to sit equally with Champion Sire MARSCAY as the most successful first season sire’s by number of winners and earnings in NSW breeding history.
MARSCAY
NORTHERN METEOR
Each of them produced 19 first crop 2-year-olds winners and also led the first season sires by earnings.
Whilst this achievement of 19 winners each is a NSW record, these scores are still 11 behind the Australian record of 30 2yo winners set by WITHOUT FEAR in his first crop of 1975-76. He stood at Lindsay Park Stud in South Australia and was recognised as a world first crop sire record holder.
MARSCAY - Winning The Slipper
Marscay went on from his first season success, to be one of Australia’s most outstanding sires, attaining the Australian Sire title twice, Champion Juvenile honours once and Leading Broodmare Sire in four years.
Statistically Northern Meteor will not be able to match Marscay now because he only stood four seasons at stud but he has the opportunity to be a leading sire over the next couple of seasons with his progeny already on the ground.
NORTHERN METEOR
By the time all Northern Meteor’s foals from 2012 matings have arrived, he will have left about 500 progeny. He started off with a book of 198 in 2009 and followed with books of 156 in 2010,108 in 2011 and 160 in 2012.
He was one of the best and fastest Australian sprinters of his time. He raced 9 times including wins in the Coolmore Stud Stakes (aka Ascot Vale Stakes) at Flemington and Brian Crowley at Randwick, a second in the T.J. Smith at Randwick and a fourth in the Newmarket at Flemington.
NORTHERN METEOR - Winning the Gr1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (aka Ascot Vale)
Northern Meteor was bred at Gooree Stud, and originally trained by John Hawkes before being moved to Gai Waterhouse. Northern Meteor was bred in 2005 by Encosta de Lago from Explosive (USA) (by Fappiano – Mr. Prospector).
She is also dam of the stakes winners Queen of the Hill and Rabbuka and grandam of Smart Missile, a winner of three black type events, the Todman, Run to the Rose and Breeders Plate, and he ran second in the Golden Rose.
Smart Missile stood his first season at Arrowfield Stud, Scone and covered 196 mares.
Northern Meteor’s stats for his first crop to race are: 48 starters = 19 winners, (including his only runner in Singapore), 14 placed and earners of approximately $1.9million.
EXCEED AND EXCEL
Among all juvenile sires, he was second to EXCEED AND EXCEL (by Danehill) on earnings and second by winners to CHOISIR (22) (by Danehill Dancer).
CHOISIR
His nearest rivals in the Australian First Season Sire List on earnings were Real Saga (by Tale of the Cat), 9 winners, 11 placed, $1,579,585 (this inflated dollar value is courtesy of winning the Magic Millions) and Sebring (by More Than Ready), 16 winners, 16 placed (including one in Singapore) and $1,452,455.
SEBRING
Sebring is a Golden Slipper winner who, like Northern Meteor, competed for his harem at Widden Stud.