Victorian breeders will have access to no fewer than nine new stallions in 2026.
The list includes Libertad (Russian Revolution) and Coleman (Pierata) going to Blue Gum Farm, Laurel River (USA) (Into Mischief) to Woodside Park, Espionage (Zoustar)to Lovatsville, Long Leaf (Fastnet Rock) heading to Gippsland and Griff (Trapeze Artist) joining the roster at Larneuk Stud.
Blue Gum Farm announced the additions of Group 1-winning sprinter Libertad (Russian Revolution) and Group-winning juvenile Coleman (Pierata) to their 2026 roster, joining Flying Artie and Oxley Road. An undefeated Group winner at two, Libertad displayed high-level precocity before developing into one of Australia’s most durable and consistent Group-race sprinters, with the five-year-old’s biggest win coming in the G1 Winterbottom S.
Meanwhile, Coleman, the first stakes winner for emerging sire Pierata (Pierro), brings explosive speed and precocious talent to the roster, including Group 3 and Listed contests. He broke the class record when winning the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes at Caulfield and was only narrowly beaten in the second-fastest Golden Slipper this decade. Libertad will stand for $9,900 inc GST, while Coleman will stand for $7,700 incl GST.
G1 Dubai World Cup winner Laurel River (USA) will shuttle to Woodside Park and is the first son of champion US sire Into Mischief to stand in Australia. Bred and raced by Juddmonte as have been champion sires such as Danehill, Frankel and Kingman, Laurel River retired lightly raced after just 11 starts with six wins from 1300m to 2000m, but it’s his breathtaking eight length romp in the Dubai World Cup that defined him. Laurel River was subsequently named Longines World’s Best Racehorse in 2024, with a World Thoroughbred Rating of 128, equal to City Of Troy and above the likes of Via Sistina and Romantic Warrior. He stands at a fee of $22,000 inc. GST.
A brilliant Group winning juvenile by champion sire Zoustar, Espionage brings pure speed and precocity to Lovatsville at a fee of $11,000 incls GST. A $1million Magic Millions yearling purchase, he is from a daughter of hugely influential sire Street Cry (IRE) and is from the family of this seasons’ G1 winning 2YO Campione D’talia.
Long Leaf will stand at Grassdale Pastoral, marking a significant step in the property’s new vision to grow thoroughbred breeding in regional Victoria following a recent change of ownership. A dual stakes-winning juvenile, Long Leaf was trained by David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig. His career highlight came in the $1M Karaka 3YO Classic, part of a four-win career that netted nearly $950,000 in prizemoney. Already a proven sire of winners in WA, he is by champion sire Fastnet Rock from the Stravinsky mare Frustrating. Service fee details are yet to be announced.
Griff heads to Neville Murdoch’s Larneuk Stud at a fee of $7,700, bringing Group 1 blue blood to the four-strong roster. The son of Trapeze Artist made history as the first Group 1 winner for his sire when claiming the 2023 Caulfield Guineas (1600m). A city winner at two and a three-time stakes winner at three, he is out of Chateau Griffo, a stakes-performed juvenile. Griff joins Lauda Sion, Wandjina, and Impending at Larneuk for the 2026 season.
Victorian stallion parades will run from August 13 – 16 with details to come.
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