Group 1 Hero Fernando Mick Takes Flight At Stud

SOME dogs, the likes of Brett Lee, Brother Fox and others, are an instant hit when they set foot on a racetrack.

Others, like Bombastic Shiraz, Rapid Journey and others, are a work in progress, building on their powers to become superstars.

Fernando Mick is one of the latter, one who became a superstar on the track, but kept building on his reputation as he went. And, didn't he build!

FERNANDO MICK AT STUD

By the time owner Paul Connell and trainer David Geall called it quits on Fernando Mick's race career he'd become a multiple Group 1 winner, a speedster who defied other superstars to run him down.

They couldn't.

Fernando Mick was an iron dog on the track, starting 107 times for 35 wins, 23 seconds and 16 thirds.

Fernando Mick has done it!

4 years old, 101 starts. Fernando Mick, you are an absolute warrior ?

Congratulations to the Geall family & all connections on taking out the 2023 Australian Cup ? pic.twitter.com/u4AYE7cpr5

— Melbourne Greyhounds – The Meadows (@MelbourneGreys) February 25, 2023

Along the way he picked up $867,000 in stakes to make him Number 15 on the all-time money winner's list. That's not a bad wrap considering five of those ahead of him earned a $1 million pay day from just one race.

And, behind him are such champions and now stud dogs as Whiskey Riot, Aston Dee Bee, Koblenz, Tiggerlong Tonk, Shima Shine, Dyna Villa, Sennachie, My Redeemer, Jungle Deuce, Hard Style Rico, Orson Allen, Aston Rupee … you get the picture!

“Mick” was a special dog.

By legend sire Fernando Bale, his dam Noaki Moth (Bombastic Shiraz-Noaki Pace) is from the damline of legend National Lass, a damline noted by successful sires Magic Sprite and Oaks Road to name just two.

Mick made 13 Group finals during his long and heralded race career.

He was twice a Group 1 winner in the Australian Cup and Hobart 1000.

He ran second in the G1 Maturity and G1 Melbourne Cup and was a finalist at the highest level in the Adelaide Cup and Temlee and was also an invitee to the inaugural running of The Sandgroper at Cannington.

Mick was also a finalist at Group level in the Cranbourne, Horsham, Warrnambool and Shepparton Cups, the champion-making Launching Pad, as well as an Easter Gift and Silver Bullet.

Consider that most owners and trainers are “over the moon” to make the final of an Easter Gift at Group 3 level and you get the picture again on how good Fernando Mick was where it all counts … on the racetrack.

The 30kg Mick has retired to stud with his owner Paul and stands at a fee of $2000.

Mick should, no MUST, be given his opportunity at stud.

There is no doubting a thoroughbred with his credentials on the track would retire to stud in the Hunter Valley with a fee of $100,000 and would serve nothing but the very best of mares.

Mick is better than most high class race dogs going to stud.

Fernando Mick was absolutely fantastic in Australian Cup Final for David Geall! pic.twitter.com/e3GL8evuYL

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 26, 2023

His career stats prove that.

His pedigree boasts a double of Black Shiraz 4×3, line breeding to brothers Skelligs Tiger and Curryhills Fox, and a saturation of the famed Zulu Moss female family.

He is bred along similar lines to G1 star and now successful stud dog Hasten Slowly.

Mick's mother, Noaki Moth, produced the smart Heard It Before and Fine Cocoon from a mating to Collision. That's the first starting point for breeders looking to use Mick.

G1 National Sprint winner Good Odds Cash is by Collision from a daughter of Fernando Bale. G1 stars Dyna Patty, Whiskey Riot, Fernando's Riot, Trouper Monelli etc are by Fernando Bale from daughters of Collision.

His 2nd mother, Noaki Pace, is bred on the same Spiral Nikita/Brett Lee/Leprechaun Yap cross as both Magic Sprite and Oaks Road both of them highly successful stud dogs.

This certainly allows some intense line breeding to bitches with both these sires in their make-up, and their sons Black Magic Opal and Worm Burner.

Trainer David Geall adds the Group 1 @ladbrokescomau Hobart Thousand to his Launceston Cup triumph earlier in the year with Hill Top Jack, as Fernando Mick is too strong in another great edition of Australia's longest running feature race. pic.twitter.com/i1XBuXfu67

— Tasracing Australia (@TasracingAus) December 15, 2022

The fact Bombastic Shiraz is damsire of Mick means he can mate bitches with more Bombastic Shiraz in their pedigree. It is a proven recipe and getting “more proven” with every week.

This can be achieved via Aston Dee Bee, the littermates Feral Franky and Good Odds Harada, Bit Chili, Fabregas, Glen Gallon, Zambora Brockie, Thirty Talks, Spring Gun, Velocette, Raw Ability, Lochinvar Marlow, Benali, Blazin' Bomber … the list is endless.

Daughters of Zambora Brockie will be especially suited to Mick. Those great race dogs, Amron Boy and Plaintiff, are by Brockie from daughters of Fernando Bale.

The daughter strain of Brett Lee in Mick's damline also highly suits matings to daughters of Zambora Brockie to continue a successful theme.

Daughters of Keybow too will be especially suited to matings to Mick. He has done exceptionally well when linked to Bombastic Shiraz.

An obvious choice of mate for Mick would be bitches by Barcia Bale.

The proven “nick” between he and Fernando Bale is obvious right around the country. Barcia Bale puts in a great degree of chase and certainly size.

This direct damline is hugely successful when linked to Barcia Bale.

Daughters of Hooked On Scotch, by Barcia Bale, are suited. He is already proven with this direct damline both here and in NZ.

More and more Wheeler bloodlines should also be a key to Mick's chances of success at stud.

While Mick has outcross influences via Kelsos Fusileer and Spiral Nikita in his pedigree, he can certainly do with matings to bring in more hybrid vigor.

His mother's saturated pedigree virtually demands that.

Mick, as a multiple G1 winner, by the champ sire, from a damline second to none … well that just about makes him a “good thing” to be a successful sire.