Fastnet Rock’s classy son Smart Missile boasts three Group performers from his first crop after the Phillip Stokes-trained filly Smart Manoeuvre was placed in the G3 SAJC Breeders' Stakes at Morphettville.
Smart Manoeuvre joined Sassy 'N' Smart and Smart Amelia to give Smart Missile more black type performers than Snitzel and Not A Single Doubt at the same stage of their careers.
Smart Missile's out-of-the-box ability on the track has been matched by his unprecedented popularity with breeders and buyers since he began stud duties at Arrowfield Stud in 2012.
He has been one of Australia's busiest stallions over the past four breeding seasons and has leading New Zealand syndicator David Ellis as one of his biggest fans.Ellis purchased the Smart Missile-Panorama Ridge filly for $150,000 at the Sydney Easter sale last year, named her Sassy 'N' Smart and watched her compile a debut win, a Listed win and a G2 second in her first three starts.
Ellis was back for more this year, buying Smart Missile's second-crop son out of Ocelot (Take Of The Cat) for $140,000 from Arrowfield at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale.Debbie Keptis' Woppitt Bloodstock paid $400,000 for Amarina Farm's Smart Missile-Rain Melody filly at last year's Magic Millions Sale.
Named Missile Coda, that filly also won on debut at Kembla Grange on April 2, three months after Woppitt Bloodstock paid $220,000 for a Smart Missile-Rubinacci colt on the Gold Coast.Other repeat purchasers of Smart Missile's yearlings include trainers Mick Price, Aquanita Racing, Paul Moroney, Duncan Ramage, Paul Willetts, Darby Racing, Prime Thoroughbreds, Star Thoroughbreds and Triple Crown Syndications.
Overall, at the first sessions of the Magic Millions, Easter, Melbourne Premier & Classic Sales, 66 lots by Smart Missile have sold for up to $500,000, averaging $129,772, more than six times his fee which remains at $22,000 inc. GST.