After a "pinch me I'm dreaming" spring carnival for the progeny of Per Incanto, culminating in more elite-level glory for Jimmysstar in the C.F. Orr Stakes (G1) Nov. 15, Little Avondale Stud's proprietor Sam Williams is excited to showcase their resident stallion's freshest crop of yearlings at the start of the new year when New Zealand Bloodstock celebrates its centenary sale at Karaka Jan. 25-29.
The famed farm, which has been operated by the Williams family for the past eight decades, will present a dozen Per Incanto youngsters as part of their NZB National Yearling Sale draft across three days of feverish trading at Karaka and, given the seismic success the sire has enjoyed on both sides of the Tasman this past year, there seems little doubt they will be hot property.
With honorable mentions for his recent Big Dance winner Gringotts and fellow Little Avondale graduate Evaporate, who embellished his CV with victory in the Sandown Stakes (G3) and a pair of group 1 placings this campaign, Per Incanto's shining star of the spring has undoubtedly been 'Jimmy.'
READ: Jimmysstar Takes Third Group 1 in C.F. Orr
"It's been a real pinch-yourself spring for all of us; we've really looked forward to the races every week," Williams told ANZ News. "It's been incredible to sit down every Saturday and watch horses that we have bred and part-own be competitive in some of Australia's biggest races.
"New Zealand has traditionally been seen as the place to breed milers and stayers, but (New Zealand-bred) Ka Ying Rising confirmed he is the world's best sprinter with his win in The Everest and Jimmysstar has put his hand up as arguably the best sprinter in Australia, so I think those two have probably changed a few people's opinions of the industry over here."
Due to his hectic workload on the family farm, where 2023 Blue Diamond Stakes (G1) winner Little Brose is learning his craft under the watchful eye of his famous father, Per Incanto, Williams was only able to attend The Everest (G1) in person during the spring.
However, he and wife Catriona, a decorated show jumper who is a willing traveler despite suffering a serious spinal cord injury following a fall while competing in 2002, are determined to be a much more visible presence for Jimmystar's autumn campaign.
The well-heeled duo will undoubtedly be active at the 100th Karaka sale, which will feature up to 30 yearlings by Per Incanto. Of the 27 youngsters set to grace the ring from Little Avondale's draft, Williams has earmarked some standout fillies which he feels will be highly sought after.
"I think our In The Congo filly (Lot 270) is really going to turn heads; all three auction houses wanted her, but in the end we decided to stay loyal to the Karaka sale," Williams said.
"We also have a Per Incanto filly (Lot 333) out of an Exceed And Excel mare from Chautauqua's family, it's only Candy Bar's second foal, and she is a ripping filly. I also really like the Per Incanto filly (Lot 256) out of Alam Mo Na, she's the half brother to Namaste who won for Bjorn Baker at Canterbury last Friday. He looks like he'll win more races and his sister is a really lovely filly, so we have high hopes for her."
Per Incanto—by longtime Darley stallion Street Cry, who stood in Kentucky and Australia—will have covered 92 mares when this breeding season draws to a close, but with the farm keen to focus on quality rather than quantity and in order to ensure the longevity of their prized possession, his book of mares will be scaled right back next year.
At 22, Per Incanto is entering the twilight years of his stallion career, and once his days of active duties are over, he will live out his days on the farm where, as Williams explains, the elder statesman commands huge admiration and affection.
"He has the most unbelievable personality," Williams said. "Every evening when I walk past his barn on the way to the house, he calls out for a carrot and now Little Brose is starting to do the same thing. They are both such laid-back characters; it's amazing how similar they are.
"When we got back to the farm the day after the Everest, just before we had dinner, Catriona and I decided to have a quick drink with Per Incanto to toast Jimmy. I pushed Catriona into his box, and she gave me a bit of a worried look.
"It's fair enough because the horse weighs 650 kilos and she's sitting there in her wheelchair, so it was probably pretty daunting. But he walked straight up to her, put his head in her lap, and wanted her to give him a big pat. It was a pretty special moment, and it summed up what a special horse he is to us."
