Somebeachsomewhere To Shuttle To Australia
Jun 28

It was announced this morning by Empire Stallions that pacing sire Somebeachsomewhere will shuttle to that Australian farm for the upcoming Southern Hemisphere breeding season.

Somebeachsomewhere

David James and Donna Egan share ownership of the property located near Avenel, Victoria which is about 130 kilometres north of Melbourne.

The announcement is significant in many ways not the least being that it marks the first time that a Hanover Shoe Farms based stallion has participated in the shuttle exercise. James also points out another notable point.

"In conjunction with the fact that Rocknroll Hanover is returning to our farm, it demonstrates that the pacing game is truly global. The whole shuttling thing for Standardbreds began about 20 years ago and it has totally changed the breed and in the industry in Australia and New Zealand," he says.

"Their breed of horse is very close to being totally North American in nature because of the bloodlines that have been brought in. Now breeders in those two countries will have access to the very best two sires in the world. We are so pleased to have the opportunity to stand a horse like this."

The first crop of Somebeachsomewhere are just now starting to race and the statistics are impressive through the later part of June. From a crop of 123 foals eligible to race 62 have already started with 12 posting speed records of 1:57 or better.

"We made the decision now to allow Beach to physically make the trip because we've been watching and seeing so many good horses to there and back without mishap the last few years," said Brent MacGrath, the former trainer of the horse and spokesperson for the Schooner Stable of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick that maintain principal ownership of the horse.

"David and Donna made a very good offer to us and the farm appears to be the sort of place where we'd want Somebeachsomewhere to stand. This is a very big move for Hanover Shoe Farms who have never done this before," declared MacGrath.

Somebeachsomewhere's Breeders Crown victory

"The fact that the numbers are looking so good for Beach makes the timing very good as well. His semen is strong and we know he can handle another good book of mares there before coming back."

For the past two seasons Southern Hemisphere breeders have had access to frozen semen for Somebeachsomewhere only.

Empire Stallions farm was created seven years ago when James and Egan purchased the former equine clinic turning it into a polished breeding operation. James, a native of Windsor, Ontario has been involved in the southern hemisphere market for over 25 years having been involved in the sale or lease of over 100 sires.

The farm will stand a total of 10 stallions this coming breeding season including Rocknroll Hanover, Artistic Fella, Blissfull Hall, Modern Art, Tell All, etc.