Encosta De Lago (27 October 1993 – 6 October 2018) was an Australian bred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are c ...
racehorse that won three
group races
Group races, also known as Pattern races, or Graded races in some jurisdictions, are the highest level of races in Thoroughbred horse racing. They include most of the world's iconic races, such as, in Europe, the Derby, Irish Derby and Prix de l'A ...
from eight starts including the
Group One (G1),
Vic Health Cup against older horses. He was the
Leading sire in Australia during 2008 and 2009.
He was a bay stallion with good conformation that was bred by Emirates Park (Vic) Pty Ltd. Encosta de Lago is by
Fairy King Fairy King or king of the fairies may refer to:
*Oberon
*the Erlking (Danish ''elverkonge'' "elf-king")
*Fairy King (horse) See also
*Fairies
*Mythological king
{{disambiguation ...
(USA) a brother to
Sadler's Wells
Sadler's Wells Theatre is a performing arts venue in Clerkenwell, London, England located on Rosebery Avenue next to New River Head. The present-day theatre is the sixth on the site since 1683. It consists of two performance spaces: a 1,500-sea ...
, who has sired over 400 winners that have won over
A$54.3 million. His dam, Shoal Creek (by Star Way (GB)), is a half-sister to Flying Spur and great granddaughter of the famous
Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer (May 27, 1961 – November 16, 1990) was a Thoroughbred who, in 1964, became the first Canadian-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby. He then became one of the most successful sires of the 20th century. He is considered a Canad ...
mare,
Fanfreluche (USA). Shoal Creek has produced four named foals which included:
* 1999 bay or brown colt, Diera Creek by Snaadee (USA)
* 2002 chestnut colt, Salman by Danewin
* 2006 bay or brown filly, Zyoon, by Al Maher, but none of these horses are currently stakes-winners.
Racing record
At the age of two years
Encosta de Lago had two race starts for 2 thirds in the VRC
Maribyrnong Plate
The Maribyrnong Plate is a Victoria Racing Club Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-olds, at set weights, over a distance of 1000 metres, at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on the Oaks day of the VRC Spring Carnival in Novemb ...
2and the Listed, MRC Debutant Stakes for $12,600 in prizemoney.
At the age of three years
At three he won the G1, MRC Vic Health Cup over 1,400 metres and the G2, VRC
Ascot Vale Stakes
The Coolmore Stud Stakes, registered as the Ascot Vale Stakes, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds, at set weights, run over 1200 metres at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on Victoria Derby Day ...
over 1,200 m. He then finished third in the G1 MRC
Caulfield Guineas
The Caulfield Guineas is a Melbourne Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held over 1600 metres (1 mile) at set weights for three-year-old horses at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia. Total prize money is A$3 million.
The race ...
. Prior to the running of the G2 MVRC
Bill Stutt Stakes
The Bill Stutt Stakes is a Moonee Valley Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old, under open set weight conditions, over a distance of 1600 metres, held annually at Moonee Valley Racecourse, Melbourne, Austra ...
over 1,600 metres at
Moonee Valley Encosta de Lago returned a test over the legal limit to the performance-enhancing substance TC02, or bicarbonate, commonly called a ''milkshake''. A second test showed a lower level, however a third was ordered by the analyst and official vet, also came up under the limit and Encosta De Lago was permitted to start and won this, his last start, easily. As a three-year-old he had 6 starts for 3 wins and 1 third and $457,250.
Total racing record: 8 starts for 3 wins and 3 thirds for $469,850 in prizemoney.
Trainer,
Lee Freedman
David Lee Freedman (born 12 August 1956) is an Australian thoroughbred racehorse trainer. and Hall of Fame inductee. In partnership with brothers Anthony, Michael, and Richard, he has been a prolific winner of Australia's major races in past 2 ...
commented that "Encosta De Lago is one of the most gifted horses I have trained, so it is of no surprise that he has become a champion stallion. He was an imposing colt with a magnificent action and turn of foot, traits he has passed on to his offspring. His win in the VicHealth Cup was miraculous. Injury curtailed his racing career, but it probably helped him as a stallion."
Stud record
When Encosta De Lago retired from racing in 1997 he stood at Blue Gum Farm,
Euroa, Victoria for an introductory fee of $8,500, increased to $38,500 in 2003.
In 2004
Coolmore Stud
Coolmore Stud, in Fethard, County Tipperary, Ireland, is headquarters of the world's largest breeding operation of thoroughbred racehorses. Through its racing arm, Ballydoyle, Coolmore also has raced many classic winners and champions. The operat ...
purchased Encosta De Lago and he was relocated to their stud at
Jerrys Plains, New South Wales
Jerrys Plains is a village in the Hunter Region in New South Wales, Australia about 33 kilometres west of Singleton on the Golden Highway. The surrounding countryside is home to some substantial horse-breeding properties, notably the Australian ...
. Here he first stood for a reported fee of $132,000, making him then Australasia's highest-priced stallion.
Encosta de Lago became one of the most sought after sires in Australia and in 2006 his service fee increased to $176,000. He travelled to Coolmore Stud in Ireland, for part of the
northern hemisphere
The Northern Hemisphere is the half of Earth that is north of the Equator. For other planets in the Solar System, north is defined as being in the same celestial hemisphere relative to the invariable plane of the solar system as Earth's Nort ...
breeding season, from March 2007 until August 2007 when he served 66 mares. When he returned to Australia he was one of the first horses to contract
equine influenza
Equine influenza (horse flu) is the disease caused by strains of influenza A that are enzootic in horse species. Equine influenza occurs globally, previously caused by two main strains of virus: equine-1 ( H7N7) and equine-2 (H3N8). The OIE now con ...
(E.I.) while in quarantine.
He was the
Leading sire in Australia in 2007–08 and 2008–09; and second in 2005–06 and 2006–07. In 2008 Encosta de Lago's service fee rose to $302,500 and he served 227 mares that season who produced 166 live foals for an 80.0% fertility rating. That season he placed second, by number of mares covered in Australia, behind
Fastnet Rock
Fastnet Lighthouse is a 54m high lighthouse situated on the remote Fastnet Rock in the Atlantic Ocean. It is the most southerly point of Ireland and lies southwest of Cape Clear Island and from County Cork on the Irish mainland. The current l ...
.
Some of his most successful G1 or G2 winning progeny includes:
*
Alinghi (11 wins, $3,563,164, MRC
Blue Diamond Stakes
The Blue Diamond Stakes is a Melbourne Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-olds, at set weights, run over 1200 metres at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The event is Victoria's richest two-year-old race ...
, VRC
Newmarket Handicap
The Newmarket Handicap is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred open handicap horse race over a distance of 1200 metres, at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on Super Saturday in March during the VRC Autumn Racing Carnival. Prize ...
, MRC One Thousand Guineas etc.)
*
Chautauqua
Chautauqua ( ) was an adult education and social movement in the United States, highly popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Chautauqua assemblies expanded and spread throughout rural America until the mid-1920s. The Chautauqua br ...
(13 wins, $8,776,935),
TJ Smith Stakes
The TJ Smith Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group races, Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race at Weight for Age run over a distance of 1200 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in the autumn during the ATC Championships series. Total pr ...
x 3,
Manikato Stakes
The Manikato Stakes is a Moonee Valley Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old and over under Weight for age conditions, over a distance of 1200 metres. It is held at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne, Aust ...
,
Lightning Stakes
The Black Caviar Lightning, registered as the Lightning Stakes, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 thoroughbred horse race at Weight for Age, run over a distance of 1000 metres at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in February. Prize mone ...
,
Chairman's Sprint Prize
The Chairman's Sprint Prize is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race in Hong Kong, run over a distance of 1200 metres. Until 2000, it was run as the Hong Kong Sprint Championship to coincide with the opening of Sha Tin Racecourse. In 2016, this race ...
)
* Count Encosta (STC Myer Stakes)
* De Lago Mist (
VRC Sires Produce Stakes
The Sires' Produce Stakes is a Victoria Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-olds, run at set weights, over a distance of 1400 metres, at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in March during the VRC Autumn Racing Carn ...
)
* Delago Brom (4 wins, $888,500, VRC
Australian Guineas
The Australian Guineas is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds, run at set weights, over a distance of 1600 metres at Flemington Racecourse, in Melbourne, Australia in March during the VRC Autumn Racing Carn ...
, sire of 4 stakes-winners)
* Douro Valley (8 wins, $1,239,258, MRC
Yalumba Stakes
The Might and Power, registered as the Caulfield Stakes is a Melbourne Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run under weight-for-age conditions, for three-year-olds and upwards, run over a distance of 2,000 metres at Caulfield Racecourse, ...
)
* Dream The Dream (
South Australian Oaks)
* English (6 wins, $3,441,071,
All Aged Stakes
The All Aged Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred Weight for Age horse race, run over a distance of 1,400 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in April or May during the ATC Autumn Carnival. Prize money is A$6 ...
,
Doomben 10,000
The Doomben 10,000 is a Brisbane Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred Weight for Age horse race, run over a distance of 1200 metres at Doomben Racecourse, Brisbane, Australia during the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival. Total prize money is A$ ...
)
* Hanks (MVRC
AAMI Vase
The Moonee Valley Vase is a registered Moonee Valley Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race held under Set Weights conditions, for horses aged three-years-old, over a distance of 2040 metres. It is held at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbou ...
)
* Lashed (7 wins, $976,714, ARC
New Zealand International Stakes
The International Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race run at Te Rapa Racecourse in Hamilton in early February every year. The 2010 running was sponsored by the connections of stallion Darci Brahma, after being sponsored for many years by Cambrid ...
, WaikRC International Stakes, ARC
Zabeel Classic
The Zabeel Classic is a Group One Thoroughbred horse race run at weight-for-age over a distance of 2000 metres at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. It is held on Boxing Day, a raceday steeped in tradition that frequently attracts in e ...
)
* Manhattan Rain ($1,311,200,
AJC Sires Produce Stakes
The Inglis Sires', registered as the Sires Produce Stakes, is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-olds at Set Weights run over a distance of 1,400 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in April dur ...
etc.)
* Mnemosyne (6 wins, $1,371,975, STC
Queen of the Turf Stakes, MRC One Thousand Guineas etc.)
* Newport (9 wins, $1,210,600,
AJC Metropolitan Handicap
The Metropolitan is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held under open handicap conditions, for horses aged three years old and older, over a distance of 2,400 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in early Octo ...
,
Brisbane Cup
The Brisbane Cup is a Brisbane Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and upwards, run under handicap conditions over a distance of 3200 metres at Eagle Farm Racecourse, Brisbane during the Queensland Winter Racing Carni ...
)
* Northern Meteor (3 wins, $532,480, VRC
Coolmore Stud Stakes
The Coolmore Stud Stakes, registered as the Ascot Vale Stakes, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds, at set weights, run over 1200 metres at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on Victoria Derby D ...
)
* Our Smoking Joe (10 wins, $1,586,700, MRC
St George Stakes
The Peter Young Stakes, registered as the St George Stakes, is a Melbourne Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race held under weight for age conditions over a distance of 1800 metres at Caulfield racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in late Febru ...
)
*
Princess Coup
Princess Coup (foaled 2003 in Australia) is a New Zealand thoroughbred racehorse. She is most noted for twice winning the Kelt Capital Stakes, New Zealand's premier race, in 2007 and 2008. She also won the 2007 New Zealand Oaks and 2008 Stoney ...
(12 wins, $3,651,776, HBRInc
Stoney Bridge Stakes, HBRInc
Kelt Capital Stakes
The Livamol Classic is a Weight-for-age Thoroughbred horse race run at Hastings Racecourse in Hawke's Bay and was at one stage New Zealand's richest horse race. It is run at a distance of 2040m.
The race is run in October. The weather in the Ha ...
(twice), WRC
New Zealand Oaks
The New Zealand Oaks is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies run at set weights over a distance of 2400 metres ( miles) on the third Saturday of March every year at Trentham Racecourse in Wellington, New Zealand.
It was r ...
)
* Racing To Win (13 wins, $3,762,285, STC
George Ryder Stakes
The George Ryder Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and over at Weight for age conditions, over a distance of 1500 metres at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in March or April. It i ...
, AJC
Doncaster Handicap
The Doncaster Mile, registered as the Doncaster Handicap is an Australian Turf Club Group One Thoroughbred handicap race for horses three years old and older, held over 1,600 metres at Royal Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia. Although the ...
, AJC
George Main Stakes
The George Main Stakes, is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run under Weight for Age conditions, over a distance of 1600 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in September. Total prize money for the race is A$1, ...
, AJC
Epsom Handicap
The Epsom Handicap is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for horses three years old and older, under handicap conditions over a distance of 1,600 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in early October. Prize money ...
, AJC
All Aged Stakes
The All Aged Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred Weight for Age horse race, run over a distance of 1,400 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in April or May during the ATC Autumn Carnival. Prize money is A$6 ...
)
* Road To Rock (6 wins, $1,153,350, AJC
George Main Stakes
The George Main Stakes, is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run under Weight for Age conditions, over a distance of 1600 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in September. Total prize money for the race is A$1, ...
,
AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes
The Queen Elizabeth Stakes, formerly known as the Queen's Plate, AJC Plate, and AJC King's Cup, is is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race run over a distance of 2,000 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydne ...
)
*
Sacred Kingdom
Sacred Kingdom (Chinese: 蓮華生輝), (foaled 18 November 2003 in Australia on Kornong Stud) is a Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes us ...
(formerly Jumbo Star) (World Co-Champion Sprinter; 15 wins, $5,632,838,
Hong Kong Sprint
The Hong Kong Sprint is a Group 1 flat horse race in Hong Kong which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 1,200 metres (about 6 furlongs) at Sha Tin, and it is scheduled to take place each year in mid De ...
( twice), Chairman's Sprint Prize (twice),
Singapore International Sprint, Centenary Sprint Cup,
Hong Kong Horse of the Year
Horse of the Year is the most prestigious honor in Thoroughbred horse racing given by racing organizations in a variety of countries around the world.
In Hong Kong, the voting for Horse of the Year is organized by the Hong Kong Jockey Club as par ...
)
* Shadoways (6 wins, $703,900, SAJC
Goodwood Handicap
The Goodwood is a South Australian Jockey Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three years old and older, run at set weights with penalties, over a distance of 1200 metres at Morphettville Racecourse, Adelaide, South Australia in the SAJC Au ...
)
*
Sirmione
Sirmione (Brescian: ; vec, Sirmion) is a comune in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy (northern Italy). It is bounded by Desenzano del Garda (Lombardy) and Peschiera del Garda in the province of Verona and the region of Veneto. It has a hist ...
(4 wins, $1,894,375, VRC
Australian Cup, VRC
Mackinnon Stakes
The VRC Champions Stakes, registered as the ''LKS Mackinnon Stakes'', is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run under Weight for Age conditions over a distance of 2000 metres at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia on ...
)
* Titanic Jack (8 wins, $1,288,950, VRC Emirates Stakes,
Alister Clark Stakes
The Alister Clark Stakes is a Moonee Valley Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race, for three-year-olds, at Set Weights, over a distance of 2040 metres, held annually usually at Moonee Valley Racecourse, Melbourne on a Friday night in March ...
)
Encosta De Lago's first northern hemisphere bred yearling sold to leading trainer, Bob Baffert at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale for US$500,000. The stallion has now sired over 1,700 foals in Australia with 950 runners, 619 winners (including about 70 stakes winners) for earnings of
A$90 million during his 13 years at stud. He is the sire of winners in Australia,
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...
,
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
, New Zealand, Singapore and South Africa. In 2010, 88 yearlings sired by him were sold at Australian auctions for an average of A$250,000. His stud fee for 2010 is $143,000 including GST, with a free return.
Encosta De Lago was retired from stud duty by Coolmore on 5 February 2015.
In addition Encosta De Lago is the broodmare sire of stakes winners Beneteau, Musir, She's Got Gears and Stokehouse.
He is also the grand sire of Hong Kong champion
Beauty Generation
Beauty Generation (; foaled 27 September 2012) is a New Zealand-bred Thoroughbred racehorse best known for his performances in Hong Kong. He began his career as a three-year-old in Australia where he won two races and ran second in the Rosehill ...
(Road To Rock - Stylish Bel, by Bel Esprit).
Death
On 6 October 2018, Coolmore Stud announced that Encosta De Lago had died aged 25 years.
Pedigree
References
{{Reflist
External links
Stallion statistics
1993 racehorse births
2018 racehorse deaths
Champion Thoroughbred Sires of Australia
Racehorses bred in Australia
Racehorses trained in Australia
Thoroughbred family 4-g