For a long time, North Americans got their thoroughbred racehorse blood from European sires, as neighbouring South American stallions weren’t seen to be as strong. However, over the last 30 years, this idea has changed as South America has worked hard to improve their thoroughbred bloodlines, prize money purses, and the quality of racing and associated facilities throughout the country.
A number of high-profile North American stallions have shuttled to South America assisting in this growth and development, with many producing exciting progeny.
Bloodstock agent Jose de Camargo sent the twice US stakes-placed sire Roy (Fappiano x Adlibber) to South America to stud. He stood in Brazil and Chile, where he proved to be one of the historical greats and was twice crowned Champion Sire in Argentina. Before his untimely death in 2005, he sired 109 stakes winners, 14 of which were champions, including Argentinian Horse of the Year Freedy. Several other offspring were sent to North America to race.
Other US stallions, such as Lookin At Lucky (Smart Strike), Shanghai Bobby (Harlan’s Holiday) and Gemologist (Tiznow) shuttled to Chile for several seasons, becoming leading sires and making a solid impression on South American racing.
The US-bred Candy Stripes (Blushing Groom) entered stud at Haras Carampangue in Argentina, before shuttling to Taylor Made Stallions in North America for the seasons 1997 to 1999. He is the sire of 2006 American Horse of the Year and Uruguay stallion Invasor, who won the 2005 Uruguay Triple Crown, the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Classic (defeating prolific future sire Bernardini), the 2007 Dubai World Cup and joined the US National Hall of Fame in 2013 before returning to South America to stand at Shadwell Stud’s Uruguay base.
While standing in South America, Candy Stripes also produced 2005 American Champion Male Turf Horse, Leroidesanimaux, the sire of Dubai World Cup Winner, Animal Kingdom, the Australian Group 1-winner Zaaki and Argentinian Group 1 winner Victory Stripes. Many of Candy Stripes’ stakes winners also came from South America and raced in the US.
Hussonet (Mr Prospector) then Scat Daddy (Johannesburg) shuttled to South America. The son of Johannesburg became Chile’s Leading Sire for three seasons from 2013 to 2016 and produced 10 Champions, including the likes of Il Capione and Solaria.
In more recent times, two-time Horse of the Year, California Chrome shuttled for 2 seasons to Chile’s Sumaya Stud and is providing more richness to the bloodlines of South American-bred racehorses.