Emirates Park has provided further illustration of both its short- and long-term intentions by purchasing a 50 per cent interest in Artie Schiller (USA), the current Leading Second Season Sire of the 2011/12 domestic racing season.

Stud CEO, Trevor Lobb, today confirmed that one of the most exciting young sires in world thoroughbred breeding has become part of the Emirates Park 2012 stallion roster and will again be made available in Victoria this coming season.

A US Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile winning son of the acclaimed Sadler’s Wells stallion El Prado, Artie Schiller has made a significant impact on the respective racing scenes of Australia and North America in a very short space of time.

The shuttle stallion’s first crop to race in Australia includes an impressive number of black-type horses, headed by recent Group 1 Rosehill Guineas winner Laser Hawk. The Gai Waterhouse-Gooree Pastoral representative also placed third in the Group 1 Australian Derby during an autumn campaign in which he established himself as one of the leading 3-year-olds in the land. As a consequence, the prominent son of Artie Schiller is widely regarded to be one of the premier candidates for the 2012 Melbourne Spring Cups.

Amongst the other quality performers responsible for Artie Schiller’s status as the leading Second Season Sire of 2011/12 have been the likes of Big Chill (SAJC Breeders’ S.-Gr.3), Secret Liaison (MRC Twilight Glow S.-LR) and Moving Money (Tasmanian Guineas-LR), and the stakes-placed American Dream. Collectively, they have established Artie Schiller as easily one of the most exciting young stallions in the Australasian stud ranks.

Artie Schiller’s record in North America is equally impressive. With his oldest progeny still only 4-year-olds, his US turf and dirt representatives include the Graded stakes winners Mr Commons (Santa Anita Sir Beaufort S.-Gr.2) and Anne’s Beauty (Woodbine Ontario Colleen S.-Gr.3), as well as the Listed stakes winners Blingo, Irish Art and Bear’s Chill.

“We are delighted to have acquired 50 per cent of Artie Schiller who is a perfect fit for our 2012 stallion roster,” explained Lobb. “It is very rare for a stallion doing so well in both hemispheres to become available and I had no hesitation in securing his services for Emirates Park.”

Lobb added: “Artie Schiller’s previous visits have seen him form a very loyal following of Victorian broodmare owners and we are very confident of their support again this season. When you also take into account the quality of mares we intend to send him, I fully expect Artie Schiller to cover his best-ever book this coming Australian breeding season.”

The addition of Artie Schiller has further enhanced Emirates Park’s hugely appealing line-up for 2012. In addition, the stud is also set to stand 2011 Cartier Sprinter Dream Ahead (USA) for his first stud season in Australia, while resident sire Al Maher is rapidly becoming one of the country’s most reliable sources of quality winners and has never been better value.

Artie Schiller is to stand the 2012 breeding season at a fee of $22,000 (inc. GST).