10/02/09
Bridlewood Farm added one of the finest pedigrees in the stud book to its stallion ranks, as Mr. Sekiguchi – a regally bred $8-million yearling by Storm Cat – has arrived at the Ocala-based farm to stand the 2010 breeding season.
Mr. Sekiguchi is directly related to two of the most influential sires in modern history, as he’s by sire-of-sires Storm Cat out of a graded stakes-winning half-sister to A.P. Indy. His dam is the Seeking the Gold mare Welcome Surprise, who is also a half-sister to the late classic winner and top sire Summer Squall.
The sale topper at the 2004 Keeneland September yearling sale, Mr. Sekiguchi flashed brilliance as a racehorse, winning two of four starts while never finishing out of the exacta. He ran six furlongs in 1:08 2/5 in a Santa Anita allowance race before impressively winning another allowance race at that track in his final start. His promising racing career was shortened by a tibia injury.
“Mr. Sekiguchi embodies all of the right ingredients to be a top stallion,” said George G. Isaacs, Bridlewood general manager. “We’re excited about this unique opportunity. Seeing is believing. He’s a wonderful genetic and physical specimen, and we believe Florida breeders will like what they see.”
Mr. Sekiguchi stood the last two seasons at stud at John Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Lexington, KY, and his first foals hit the ground earlier this year.
“Mr. Sekiguchi bred 97 mares in his first year with us at Hill ’n’ Dale,” said Sikura. “He has great foals and we are bullish about his future. The move to Bridlewood will allow Mr. Sekiguchi to breed a good book of precocious mares at a farm that has a track record of making stallions including Stormy Atlantic who now stands at Hill’n’ Dale.
“The dip in the Kentucky market provides a great opportunity for Florida breeders to access a beautifully bred young son of Storm Cat from a great female family that boasts A.P. Indy and Summer Squall. I can’t think of another farm better suited to stand a horse with such great promise at stud,” he said.
A fee for Mr. Sekiguchi will be announced at a later date.
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