Breeders on tight budgets are often asked to compromise on either bloodlines or performance. There is a strong argument that a horse like Skyclad offers the perfect compromise – he is a speedy 2YO winning son of champion sire Snitzel, and showed enough promise in his raceday efforts that broodmare owners can see he had the potential to get black-type without the cost factor that would have gone with it.
Skyclad ran third on debut as an early 2YO over 1100m at Randwick in December of his 2YO season, then came back to the same track and distance in the autumn to win impressively. After that win, trainer Gerald Ryan said, “I reckon he has good ability. He has always shown good ability from the start, the owners bred him and retained him. He is a good-natured horse and he just does everything right and works well when you want him to.”
Unfortunately, Skyclad wasn’t to go on with it, placing once more as a 2YO, before two outings as an early 3YO, but his potential means an opportunity for breeders searching for value.
Skyclad’s sire Snitzel needs no introduction as he is about to collect his third Australian Champion Sire title in 2018/19 to go with 2016/17 and 2017/18. Sire of 90 stakes winners, as at July 2019, Snitzel has gone from headline to headline with his highly sought after stock. Skyclad, being a homebred, didn’t go through the yearling market but many other Snitzel yearlings have and have commanded big money. Snitzel’s first sons have only recently gone to stud, but with the likes of Shamus Award already leaving a Gr1 winner, the signs for the future are looking exciting.
Skyclad is out of 2YO winner Loulou, a daughter of Gr1 winner and top sire Strategic. Loulou has been a solid broodmare, leaving five winners from as many named foals, and she is from the family of dual Gr1 winner Enzo’s Lad (currently representing New Zealand in England), as well as stakes winners Chakvetadze, Patpong, and Rouquin.
A city winning 2YO by a champion sire from a consistent local family, Skyclad offers excellent value for the discerning breeder.
| SNITZEL (AUS) b. 2002 | REDOUTE'S CHOICE (AUS) b. 1996 | DANEHILL b. 1986 | DANZIG |
| RAZYANA | |||
| SHANTHAS CHOICE b. 1992 | CANNY LAD | ||
| DANCING SHOW | |||
| SNIPPETS' LASS (AUS) b. 1993 | SNIPPETS b. 1984 | LUNCHTIME | |
| EASY DATE | |||
| SNOW FINCH b. 1984 | STORM BIRD | ||
| A REALGIRL | |||
| LOULOU (AUS) ch. 2003 | STRATEGIC (AUS) ch. 1992 | ZEDITAVE ch. 1985 | THE JUDGE |
| SUMMONED | |||
| SUDDEN IMPULSE ch. 1980 | LUSKIN STAR | ||
| SWEET EMBRACE | |||
| MAKE MINE PARIS (AUS) ch. 1992 | PARIS PRINCE ch. 1980 | EXCLUSIVE NATIVE | |
| DANCERS COUNTESS | |||
| MAKENA ch. 1980 | COMERAM | ||
| DEEP SHOW |
SKYCLAD Winner at 2, A$87,900, ATC William Hill Supporting Sporting Chance 2YO H., 3d ATC Fresh for Kids 2YO P., Sire Custodians 2YO P.. He entered stud in Aust. in 2016. Sire of 9 progeny to race, a winner, earnings of over $38,000, inc.
G'Day Poopsie (17g, Bootleg, Romeo). Winner at 1000m in 2020-21.
Look at Yah (18g, Strada, Canny Lad). Placed at 2 in 2020-21.
Puja (18f, Fusaichi Pegasus, Zeditave). Placed at 2 in 2020-21.
Lights on the Hill (17g, Southern Image, Night Shift). Placed in 2021-22.
| 24/02/2024: I'm Too Sixey () 4yo g (Skyclad-All Sixes by Southern Image (USA)); 3rd Yass PRC Commence Communications Maiden P., $7,000 900m, earning $675 | |
| 25/11/2023: I'm Too Sixey () 4yo g (Skyclad-All Sixes by Southern Image (USA)); 2nd Hay JC Paddock to Plate Maiden P., $13,000 800m, earning $2,350 | |
| 09/07/2023: Pepper Moon () 4yo m (Skyclad-Lefebvre by Testa Rossa); 3rd Wean APRC Idemitsu Boggabri Coal Maiden P., $7,000 1200m, earning $675 | |
| 01/05/2023: G'Day Poopsie () 5yo g (Skyclad-Farrbak Lady by Bootleg); 2nd Taree RC Club Taree H., $27,000 1000m, earning $5,050 | |
| 07/04/2023: In the Air Tonight () 3yo f (Skyclad-Midnight Hostess by Danzero); 2nd Canberra RC Thank You Tim Olive H., $22,000 1200m, earning $4,400 | |
| 16/02/2023: Lights on the Hill () 5yo g (Skyclad-Southern Nights by Southern Image (USA)); 2nd Goulburn DRC Goulburn Carpet Court H., $30,000 1600m, earning $5,300 | |
| 12/01/2023: Lights on the Hill () 5yo g (Skyclad-Southern Nights by Southern Image (USA)); 3rd Moruya JC Sandy Cummins Memorial H., $27,000 1425m, earning $2,600 | |
| 03/01/2023: G'Day Poopsie () 5yo g (Skyclad-Farrbak Lady by Bootleg); 1st Taree RC Mid Coast Glass Fencing H., $27,000 1000m, earning $13,950 | |
| 15/11/2022: In the Air Tonight () 3yo f (Skyclad-Midnight Hostess by Danzero); 1st Narromine TC Wellington Sand & Gravel Maiden H., $27,000 1100m, earning $13,950 | |
| 18/10/2022: In the Air Tonight () 3yo f (Skyclad-Midnight Hostess by Danzero); 3rd Bathurst TC Orange Vet Hospital Maiden P., $27,000 1100m, earning $2,600 | |
| 15/09/2022: Puja () 4yo f (Skyclad-Allates by Fusaichi Pegasus (USA)); 3rd Dubbo TC Three Rivers Machinery H., $27,000 1600m, earning $2,600 | |
| 31/07/2022: Puja () 4yo f (Skyclad-Allates by Fusaichi Pegasus (USA)); 2nd Forbes JC Seeley & Polyaire Maiden P., $30,000 1600m, earning $5,300 | |
| 15/07/2022: Puja () 3yo f (Skyclad-Allates by Fusaichi Pegasus (USA)); 2nd Dubbo TC Away Cup Cafe Maiden H., $25,000 1615m, earning $4,650 | |
| 01/07/2022: Lights on the Hill () 4yo g (Skyclad-Southern Nights by Southern Image (USA)); 1st Moruya JC Clipsal H., $25,000 1650m, earning $12,850 | |
| 22/05/2022: Lights on the Hill () 4yo g (Skyclad-Southern Nights by Southern Image (USA)); 3rd Moruya JC Trades of Tuross & Budalla H., $24,000 1425m, earning $2,300 | |
| 13/02/2022: Nannysky () 4yo m (Skyclad-Naughty Nanny by Dangerous); 2nd Dubbo TC Spinal Cure Maiden P., $24,000 1400m, earning $4,440 | |
| 01/01/2022: Nannysky () 4yo m (Skyclad-Naughty Nanny by Dangerous); 3rd Tamworth JC Maiden P., $10,000 1300m, earning $885 | |
| 02/11/2021: Lights on the Hill () 4yo g (Skyclad-Southern Nights by Southern Image (USA)); 3rd Canberra RC NCG Services P., $22,000 1600m, earning $1,925 | |
| 22/10/2021: Lights on the Hill () 4yo g (Skyclad-Southern Nights by Southern Image (USA)); 3rd Cootamundra TC South West Slopes CU P., $24,000 1600m, earning $2,300 | |
| 01/10/2021: Lights on the Hill () 4yo g (Skyclad-Southern Nights by Southern Image (USA)); 1st Moruya JC Batemans Bay Soldiers Club Maiden P., $30,000 1650m, earning $15,100 | |
| 13/09/2021: Lights on the Hill () 4yo g (Skyclad-Southern Nights by Southern Image (USA)); 2nd Moruya JC Happy Birthday Big Al Maiden H., $24,000 1425m, earning $4,440 | |
| 22/08/2021: Lights on the Hill () 4yo g (Skyclad-Southern Nights by Southern Image (USA)); 2nd Shoalhaven City TC KNK Builders Maiden P., $24,000 1400m, earning $4,440 | |
| 27/07/2021: Puja () 2yo f (Skyclad-Allates by Fusaichi Pegasus (USA)); 3rd Bathurst TC Jamiesons Joinery Maiden H., $24,000 1100m, earning $2,300 |
