Azkaban ‘Elevated' To Stud Duties

IT'S a tribute to the versatility and ability of Azkaban that at his third last race start of a long and glorious race career, he was able to win a 460m FFA in a fast 25.64.

This, from the son of Bella Infrared-Outlandish who had been able to mix it throughout a 69-start career with the best sprinters, middle distance gallopers and staying stars the country could muster against him.

From the Group 2 Cranbourne Cup at his very last race start, to the final of the inaugural $1 million Chase at Wentworth Park, to a spot in the Group 1 Super Stayers and the middle distance McKenna Memorial along the way, Azkaban has been something special as a race dog.

He retires to stud with the race career of 69 starts for 26 wins, 16 seconds and six thirds boasting $155,000 in stakes. He won the Victoria Cup at Cranbourne to go with his big race presence over all distances.

He really is a versatile wonder.

Check out the times he could run … a 29.60 in a FFA at The Meadows and 34.57 over the 600m, a 29.67 and 34.49 at Sandown, 29.75 at Wenty, 29.87 and 41.62 at Cranbourne, 25.64 at Warragul, 29.07 and 37.19 at Sale, 30.74 at Ballarat and we have a race dog to suit all broodbitch owners' options.

While Azkaban will certainly be judged, like all stud dogs, on his racetrack performances, he passes a few other tests broodbitch owners certainly will have for him.

He came from a litter of five named offspring and all were prolific. Litter sister Elevated (12 wins, $153,000) won the G1 Sapphire Crown, was 2nd in the G2 Shepparton Cup and a finalist in the G2 Warragul Cup and G3 Speed Star.

That's a special galloper.

Also in the litter was the very smart Feikuai Donna the winner of 13 races and $43,000, and Unmistakable (12 wins, $36,000).

By the US great Bella Infrared (an All America star), Azkaban is from the star producer Outlandish (Collision-Tocsin). It is a wonderful, wonderful damline tracing to that most famous of producers Fitzroy Lass the dam of legend Head Honcho.

Outlandish never got the opportunity to show her greatness, winning at The Meadows but breaking a hock at her third start.

As a sister to the appropriately named Phenomenal (18 wins, $79,000) the runner-up in the G1 Sale Cup and a multiple track record breaker, Outlandish was always going to get her chance at stud.

In her litter to Black Magic Opal, Outlandish producer the Group stars Bewildering and Extreme Magic.

Bewildering (17 wins, $247,000) won the Warrnambool Classic and was a multiple Group placegetter and finalist.

Extreme Magic (17 wins, $121,000) was a track record breaker and multiple Group placed and finalist.

Azkaban's second dam Tocsin was a Meadows winner and a sister to the dam of Group 1 star Aston Bolero (53 wins, $399,000),  and a sister to Regal Blaze, granddam of Group 1 stars Ring The Bell (G1 Nat Distance, G1 NZ Silver Collar, G1 NZ Stayers Cup), Bells Are Ringin (G1 Sandown Cup) and Blazin' Bomber (at stud), and from a repeat mating of that litter Ringside (2nd G1 NZ Auckland Cup).

Being by the US great Bella Infrared, who tragically died young, Azkaban's chances at stud will primarily be based around what will work best with those dominant ancestors found in his dam Outlandish.

Bella Infrared has done extremely well in Australia with Wheeler-bred bitches.

Thus bitches by the myriad of Wheeler stud dogs, Fernando Bale, Barcia Bale, Bekim Bale, Dyna Tron, Dyna Double One, Turanza Bale, Jarvis Bale etc etc etc should all have an option to go to Azkaban.

Being a son of Outlandish, it will not take Einstein to work out that daughters of Black Magic Opal will be perfect for matings to Azkaban. That will be in a bid to recreate the pedigree (to a degree) of Bewildering and Extreme Magic.

Having Collision as his damsire will also prove a huge plus.

He works with so many line, especially Fernando Bale, Barcia Bale, El Grand Senor, Buck Fever and especially Where's Pedro. These names are throughout bloodlines in Australia.

Collision can be confidently duplicated and bitches with Cosmic Rumble, whose dam is a half sister to Collision, will also ideally suit a mating to Azkaban.

Pure Octane is the sire of Azkaban's second mother and therein lies other great options.

He does exceptionally well when linked with his half brothers Hallucinate and Where's Pedro … but especially Hallucinate who is found in the pedigree of Barcia Bale and Bekim Bale.

Pure Octane is out of Elusive Rebel and she is bred along very similar lines to Lansley Bale. Bitches with him close up in their pedigree should suit Azkaban.

Pure Octane is also a SON of Token Prince. Bitches with Token Prince through a DAUGHTER can be expected to produce in matings to Azkaban. He is found in many lines like Banjo Boy, Cosmic Chief, Spring Gun, Goodesy, Jagger Swagger, Miagi, Vee Man Vane etc.

Brett Lee is the sire of Azkaban's third dam. Coming via a daughter means Azkaban is certainly ideal to be mated to broodbitches with Brett Lee via one of his SONS. Wow! Doesn't that open up avenues.

Brett Lee through SONS is everywhere throughout the world.

But, when planning a mating to Azkaban, make sure there is a cross of Head Honcho up close in the bitch.

Azkaban's fifth dam is Skyline Miss a half sister to Head Honcho and matching this pair is almost a guarantee of producing success.

With Outlandish's close relation Absolute Stunna going to Kinloch Brae to produce a litter of superstars, it would again be obvious that daughters of Kinloch Brae will suit a mating to Azkaban in a bid to recreate the pedigree of Blazin' Bomber, Ring The Bell and Bells Are Ringin'.

Azkaban's success on the racetrack, his versatility, his wonderful pedigree … all go to making him a wonderful stud dog option for broodbitch owners.