When Will Orson Allen Set Sail For Stud?

TIMING can be everything when launching a budding stud career so it only makes sense that conversations around when time will be called on Orson Allen's racing career are already being had in the Wheeler household.

"At the moment we're taking it race by race, he'll definitely go to the Golden Easter Egg and then we'll have a look at things after that," declared his owner Brendan Wheeler on Monday.

Laying claim to the mantra of the country's number 1 sprinter, Orson Allen's ever improving racing career is only surpassed by his magnificent pedigree, with the calls for the Group 1 Perth Cup hero as a desirable stud destination becoming more thunderous by the day.

A son of influential American sire Kc And All out of Desalle Bale (Go Wild Teddy x Princess Bale), a 29-race winning litter-sister to generational sire Barcia Bale, to whom she finished runner-up to in the 2012 Group 1 Maturity Classic, Orson Allen has all the ingredients to command huge attention at stud.

With access to Kc And All – sire of Golden Easter Egg winner Striker Light – all but finished, breeders have been eagerly awaiting a bona fide superstar to hit the market by the import sire.

Enter Orson Allen.

The only question is when?

"We are getting a lot of interest about him so after the Easter Egg, when it goes a bit quiet with the bigger Group 1 races, we'll likely start collecting from him and see how he handles it," added Wheeler.

"The plan will be for him to return to racing but that will be decided by how much demand there is for him. Personally though I'd love to see him back at the track if he does have a break, he's only getting better."

As any successful stud master will quickly point out, history says that timing can determine an aspiring stud dog's success in the breeding barn just as much as racing performance or pedigree.

Some go too early, some too late, some get it exactly right, which more often than not leads to success. A fighting chance to get the numbers needed to make a decent fist of things.

As a prominent breeder said last week; "Breeders can be rather fickle, they'll hardly ever remember a stud dog's first 10 starts, but I can promise you they'll remember the last 10."

Fernando Bale's entry into the stud market was hatched perfectly.

Paul Wheeler decided to pull up stumps with his champion galloper following a 29.27 Sandown Park free for all victory in December 2015, right on the cusp of breeding season.

He hit the ground running with his stud career after having nothing left to prove on the track.

The calls for him at stud were getting louder by the day, the decision timed almost to the minute. The rest, as they say, is history.

Dyna Double One is another prime example, bowing out a winner following his rampaging Group 1 Australian Cup success. There's nothing better than setting off into the sunset a winner.

In many instances injury can determine the longevity of a racing career, Mepunga Blazer a prime example. Over the past 10 months since retirement, the son of Barcia Bale has served over 80 bitches, he'll get his chance to succeed at stud, with the early reports glowing about the Group 1 Maturity classic winner's pups.

When it comes to Orson Allen, perhaps the fact the Wheeler family already have the stud market cornered – mainly through Fernando Bale, Barcia Bale and Dyna Double One – will serve to prolong the four-time group winner's racing career, something his trainer Correy Grenfell is no doubt hoping for.

Orson Allen sits atop of all-in betting for the Group 1 Golden Easter Egg at Wentworth Park which gets underway Saturday week. He's previously run 29.43 at the Glebe circuit, and is going better now. His claims for a second group 1 title on Easter Saturday are undeniable.

One thing is certain though, when time is called on Orson Allen's racing career, his attraction at stud is going to be significant, the demand there before a straw has been taken.

With an outstanding pedigree, along with everything you want from a race dog turned stud proposition, he'll be highly sought after by breeders.

But as they say, timing is everything in this game.

BOWING OUT A WINNER!

Cosmic Rumble – Group 1 Golden Easter Egg
Fabregas – Group 1 National Sprint Championship
Magic Sprite – Winner 10 of 11 starts
El Grand Senor – Group 2 Shepparton Cup
Paw Licking – Group 2 Shepparton Cup
Barcia Bale – Winner 13 of 14 starts
Fernando Bale – 29.27 Sandown Park winner