Selwyn River Stud's wait is over with the
arrival of the exciting Southern Halo sire prospect and champion Canadian galloper, Edenwold (CAN) (ex Best of Friends by Mining) during August.
For two year's Selwyn River Stud's proprietor Glyn Morris has sought out an early maturing sprinter sire, so upon learning from Robt Dawe of Edenwold's availability, the opportunity was seized with both hands.
Edenwold (CAN) was the Champion 2YO colt in Canada in 2005, winning four times as a juvenile and cementing his black-type ability at this age with a hat-trick of Listed wins in the Canadian Woodbine Colin Stakes (1200m), the Canadian Woodbine Vandal Stakes (1200m) and the Canadian Woodbine Simcoe Stakes (1400m).
Adding further depth to this two-year-old record, Edenwold (CAN) twice produced runner-up performances, with not the least of these coming at his second career start in the Canadian Listed Woodbine Victoria Stakes (1000m).
Of particular note here is that prior to the International Cataloguing Committee's 1999 decision to downgrade Canada's black-type races due to their restriction to Canadian bred horses, all of these juvenile contests have historically carried either a Canadian Gr.2 or Gr.3 status.
 At three, Edenwold (CAN) distinguished himself as the first champion 2YO since Sound Reason in 1977 to later come out and win what is the oldest thoroughbred horse race in North America and Canada's most prestigious race, the Queen's Plate (3YO, 2000m).
In taking this first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown which was formerly a Canadian Gr.1, Edenwold ensured his name became etched alongside an enviable honours roll, including sire greats such as Northern Dancer (1964 winner) and Sound Reason (1977 winner).
Beyond offering breeders an exceptional Canadian race record netting US$942,000 (approx NZ$1.2 mil) in earnings, Edenwold boasts a strong pedigree being linebred to Raise a Native and being by the proven producer of sires, Southern Halo (USA) (Halo).
EDENWOLD (BEST OF FRIENDS-SOUTHERN HALO) co-bred by Gail Wood and William Diamant was foaled at Woodlands Farm. He was purchased as a yearling by Jim & Alice Sapara of WINSONG FARMS out of the 2004 Select Canadian Sale.
Edenwold’s pedigree also looks well suited to New Zealand and Australian racing. The deeds of Southern Halo, especially via More Than Ready, are well documented. Southern Halo x Mr Prospector x Buckpasser is a proven cross and any stallion inbred to such a prepotent mare as Your Hostess must appeal strongly to breeders in this part of the world. |