Son of THE great STORM CAT

EL NINO, sprinting son of THE Sire of Sires, STORM CAT, looks poised to launch his stud career impressively, with his FIRST STARTER leading all the way, notching up brilliantly fast sectional times, over her 1100m Maiden, caught on the line to run second, and beating the rest by 9 lengths in the $50,000 purse race.

Other first crop 2 year olds have been winning trials in the USA - in very fast times, signaling that EL NINO is passing on the potent STORM CAT speed gene like dozens of other successful sons.

The STORM CAT dynasty is represented in Australia by these successful sons:
TALE OF THE CAT (78SW, inc. REAL SAGA - $954,950)
HENNESSY (71SW, inc. GRAND ARMEE - $3,780,167)
STATUE OF LIBERTY (14SW, inc. HAY LIST - $1,656,325)
EL NINO was a fast front runner, leading in all of his races. He was capable of a 21-second opening quarter-mile speed.

He led all the way to victory at Keenlands, Churchhill Downs and Oaklawn, posting just 0.26 outside the fastest 1300m time for the year at Churchill Downs with a 3-length margin win.

He STAKES-placed at Saratoga (Gr2), Churchill Downs and Arlington (on turf).

DAM-LINE FIRST DAM: BAY HARBOR (2 wins at 2), half-sister to ECLIPSE CHAMPION 2 YEAR OLD COLT, BOSTON HARBOR - 6 wins at 2 including BREEDERS CUP GR 1(US$1,934,605), Sire 21 SWs.

SECOND DAM: Half-sister to US CHAMPION SPRINTER, GROOVY (12 wins, 2-4yrs, US$1,346,956), Vosburgh S.-G1, Forego H (gr. II) twice, Tom Fool S (gr. II) twice, True North H (gr. II), Roseben H (gr. III), Finger Lakes Budweiser Breeders' Cup S, Ancient Title H, Firecracker S, Spectacular Bid S, Forever Casting S, 2nd Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I), Champagne S (gr. I), Futurity S(gr. I), Bay Shore S (gr. II), 3rd Wood Memorial Invitational (gr. I).

SIRE-LINE STORM CAT is one of the most influential stallions in the history of the breed and North America's top stallion. He is the sire of over 178 STAKES WINNERS worldwide and his sons and daughters are proving to be excellent producers as well. At least 61 different sons of STORM CAT have sired stakes winners and his daughters have thrown the likes of SPEIGHTSTOWN, SKY MESA, BUDDHA, SAHARA GOLD and JUMP START.

STORM CAT'S ability to produce good sires amongst his minor Stakes sons is a testimony to his potent gene pool, just one example, such as Listed Winner, STORMY ATLANTIC, Sire of 59 SW'rs. There are dozens more sons at stud that were less accomplished race performers, yet still prolific producers of winners and Stakes winners. Lion Hearted did not win at Stakes level, yet he has sired 15 SW'rs. Full brother to GIANT'S CAUSEWAY, FREUD WAS only Stakes placed, yet he is amongst the Leading Sires in New York with 22 SW'rs.

Not surprisingly offspring of STORM CAT are in high demand at public auction. At the 2004 Keeneland September sale a STORM CAT yearling colt brought a final bid of $8 million. That figure is the highest ever for a September yearling and STORM CAT has now sired the more $1 million yearlings than any other stallion in history.

STORM CAT was especially popular at Keeneland's 2009 September sale, siring seven of the ten highest-priced horses in the sale's history. He has topped the sale seven times by average. His 2005 average, $1,766,731, remains a sale mark with three or more yearlings sold. That figure eclipsed the former mark, $1,756,538, one he set in 2001.

The 2009 Keeneland September yearling sale featured his last full crop, and marked STORM CAT'S departure from the commercial scene. Even in a dreadful economy the big players turned out and snapped up his yearlings, starting with the sales-topper - a leggy, well-built colt at $2.05 million. STORM CAT'S final three foals were born last year.

STORM CAT is also showing strength as a broodmare sire, currently ranking eighth in that department; to date, his daughters have produced 135 STAKES WINNERS. All four of his 2009 stakes winners are Graded (Group) winners, including Grade 1 winners LIFE IS SWEET and MR. SIDNEY. Considered North America's current premier sire of sires, STORM CAT is represented by such sons as GIANT'S CAUSEWAY, TALE OF THE CAT and STORMY ATLANTIC - all three rank in the top seven in 2009 by progeny earnings. Plus, this year's top two freshman sires, ROLL HENNESSY ROLL and LION HEART, are grandsons of STORM CAT.

In Australia, his successful sons include TALE OF THE CAT, HENNESSY and STATUE OF LIBERTY, Sire of HAY LIST and Grand-son, SHAMARDAL.