Portland Sky Debut at Widden Hunter Valley

Following last year’s announcement that Gr1-winning sprinter Portland Sky 2017 Deep Field x Sky Rumba) would debut at Widden Victoria, historic Widden Stud has advised he will stand at the farm’s Hunter Valley home instead for his debut season. A brilliant son of Deep Field (Northern Meteor), Portland Sky’s impressive victory in the 2021 renewal of the Oakleigh Plate secured his place among an elite band of 3YO winners of the time-honoured race, joining the ranks of Snitzel, Fastnet Rock, Weekend Hussler and Starspangledbanner. “A look at the Oakleigh Plate honour roll tells you it takes an exceptional 3YO to win the race. Furthermore, Portland Sky defeated Anders (184 mares), Dirty Work (155 mares) and Hanseatic (195 mares) that day, all of which proved to be extremely popular freshman stallions,” said principal Antony Thompson. After his debut win, Portland Sky showed early promise with a victory over 1200m in the Gr3 Red Anchor Stakes, followed by the Gr3 Manfred Stakes, where he defeated Caulfield Guineas runner-up Aysar and Blue Diamond winner Tagaloa. Only a month after his impressive performance in the Oakleigh Plate, Portland Sky returned to the track in the Gr1 William Reid, placing second at weight-for-age behind 4YO Everest runner-up Masked Crusader and ahead of star sprinting mares Libertini and September Run, in a field containing eight individual Gr1 winners, as well as Swats That, who ran the quinella in the Coolmore with September Run in the spring. An outcross pedigree with his closest cross being Sir Tristram 5m x 5m through his second damsire Dr Grace, and Deep Field’s second damsire Military Plume, Portland Sky is bound to provide many possibilities for breeders. Portland Sky will stand for a fee of $25,000 plus GST in 2022 with limited Lifetime Breeding Rights available.

Portland Sky will debut at Widden in the Hunter Valley (pic: supplied)