The Millstream Farm based stallion Ato has made a really pleasing start with his first two-year-olds this season.
The G1 winning son of Royal Academy has only been represented by a handful of runners thus far, but, to date, Ato has been represented by ten first crop runners who have won or finished in the money in 2017-2018.
His tally of winners (four) places Ato behind only Master Of My Fate and Pomodoro on the Leading First Crop Sires of winners list.
The talented Ato was Singapore’s Champion Four-Year-Old in 2012, and received an international rating of 116 in 2012. This rating placed Ato equal to such G1 winners Aesop’s Fables (Prix Jean Prat), Alcopop (Mackinnon Stakes), Alpha (Travers Stakes), Brown Panther (Irish St Leger), Data Link (Maker’s 46 Mile), Elusive Kate, Emcee (Forego Stakes), Fallen For You (Coronation Stakes), Homecoming Queen (1000 Guineas), Most Improved (St James’s Palace Stakes), and The Lumber Guy (Vosburgh Stakes).
He won or placed in 18 of his 25 races, with Ato’s big race wins, which included four group race successes, including the G1 Krisflyer International Sprint, and the prestigious Patrons Bowl.
Sadly, just before leaving to compete in the Hong Kong Sprint, Ato was found to be lame and never raced again.
His sire Royal Academy, one of the best sire sons of Triple Crown winner Nijinsky II, was an exceptional racehorse whose wins included an historic triumph in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile. A dual champion sire in Brazil, Royal Academy left behind no fewer than 167 black type winners, with Royal Academy’s tally of stakes winners including 23 individual G1 winners.
Royal Academy, whose Blue Diamond Stakes winning son Bel Esprit sired unbeaten Australian legend Black Caviar, is also broodmare sire of Australian Champion Sire, and influential shuttle stallion, Fastnet Rock.
Ato is out of the top class racemare Another Legend, whose six wins included the G2 All Along Stakes and he is a direct descendant of one of history’s greatest mares –Alice Hawthorn. The latter won a staggering 52 races before going on to produced English Derby winner Thormanby.
The lighting fast Ato will stand for a fee of R5 000 this year.