Aussie stud bucking the import trend

SOUTH Australian-based breeding establishment Bellmoure Park Stud is ‘bucking the trend’ this season.

While the bulk of mares served in the state are the result of imported semen, Bellmoure Park Stud is exporting the commodity.

Thanks to the deeds of one of his daughters, SA-based stallion Imperial Count is having an impact in New Zealand, with breeders chasing more.

No stranger to producing high class stock, Imperial Count is a Group One winning sire whose progeny have made their way into the winners’ circle throughout Australasia.

As for interest in Imperial Count from the Shaky Isle, it stems from his promising daughter Imperious Girl, which has won three of her five starts for trainer Craig Ferguson.

During her last victory, Imperious Girl was caught three-wide early from barrier six before being settled in the ‘death seat’ as Rangitata led from four.

Powering her way to the front turning for home, the three-year-old was untouched to cover the mile in 1:56.8 as Pyramid Rose and Rangitata filled the placings.

Bellmoure Park Stud’s Mario Borg explained Imperious Girl’s success kick-started the Kiwi interest in the American-bred stallion.

“He’s got a handy record as a stallion and gets attention, but it has picked up in the past month or so thanks to Imperious Girl,” Borg said. “I’ve had a fair bit of interest and recently arranged for semen to be shipped over.

“It is the first time I have sent semen to New Zealand, but with any luck, it won’t be the last.”

Closer to home, Imperial Count’s son – Imperial Monarch – was triumphant in last Saturday night’s McNamara Memorial Trotters’ Cup in Geelong after overcoming a 20-metre handicap.

The six-year-old won the same race last March from the 10-metre mark.

A change in the racing calendar resulted in the Cup being run twice in 2026.

“Like I said, Imperial Count’s got a handy record as a stallion and gets attention, but in all fairness, he still doesn’t get the credit he deserves,” Borg said.