THE high class Australian sprinter Sidestep is one of seven Darley stallions covering in 2016 at the Haras du Logis in Normandy, where his companions include the successful sires Authorized, Manduro and Slickly, as well as another Group 1 winning newcomer, Hunter’s Light.
Sidestep, who was the champion two-year-old colt in Australia, began his stud career a few months ago at Kelvinside in Australia.
Sidestep was thrown in at the deep end, starting his racing career in the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes at Sandown and taking third, then improving to second of 14 next time in the Listed Black Opal Stakes at Canberra, beaten only a neck by Criterion. He scored his first victory in a field of 10 for the Group 2 Pago Pago Stakes at Rosehill in March 2013; then only a week later he was second to the brilliant filly Overreach (also by Exceed And Excel) in Australia’s biggest two-year-old event, the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes over six furlongs at Rosehill, with four Group 1 winners behind him including Guelph.
Returning to action in August, Sidestep was fourth in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill, then fourth to Zoustar a month later in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes, also at Rosehill. His form improved as the season wore on and after running second, beaten a nose by Shamalia, in the Listed Fireball Stakes at Randwick, he won the Listed Darby Munro Stakes at Rosehill, beating Bound For Earth.
He ended his second season by winning the Group 2 Royal Sovereign Stakes over six furlongs at Randwick, defeating the New Zealand star Bounding.
Sidestep is just one of the 108 blacktype winners by his Australian-bred sire Exceed And Excel, who was a champion sprinter there winning the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington and the Group 1 Dubai Racing Club Cup at Caulfield. Exceed And Excel has already sired three Group 1 winners in Europe, the champion miler Excelebration, the Nunthorpe Stakes victress Margot Did and Outstrip who won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and begins a new career as a stallion at Dalham Hall this year.
However, Exceed And Excel is also a champion sire in Australia, where he has sired another seven Group 1 stars, the best known being another young Dalham Hall sire, Helmet.
Dextrous, the dam of Sidestep, was a top class racemare whose five wins included the Group 2 Sandown Guineas and the Group 3 Vanity Handicap at Flemington. In addition to Sidestep, her four winners include two talented sons of Commands, namely Skilled, who won the Group 1 Champagne Stakes at Randwick, and Ambidexter whose best win was in the Group 2 Theo Marks Sprint at Rosehill.
Sidestep stands his first season in Europe at the great value fee of just €4,000.
Champion 2yr old colt in Australia in 2012-13. Won three races, £810,583, over 6 furlongs, at 2 and 3 years viz., Arrowfield Royal Sovereign Stakes, Randwick, Gr.2, Bowermans Pago Pago Stakes, Rosehill, Gr.2, Randwick Equine Darby Munro Stakes, Rosehill, L, also placed second in Tooheys New Golden Slipper Stakes, Rosehill, Gr.1, Kamberra Wine Black Opal Stakes, Canberra, L, Xirrus Fireball Quality Handicap, Randwick, L, and third in Merson Cooper Stakes, Sandown, L. Retired to stud in Australia in 2015 and in France in 2016.
Stands at: Haras du Logis, Louvieres-en-Auge, 61160 Trun (Orne), France
Contact: Julian Ince or Sebastien
Telephone: +33 (0) 2 33 36 21 20 or +44 (0) 7436 283583 (Sebastien)
Email: hello@darley.co.uk
Website: www.darleystallions.com
Fee: €4,000, October 1st, Special Live Foal