Art Colony dies

17 May 2012 - Loddon Valley Stud’s John Campbell has sadly confirmed the passing of dual hemisphere stallion Art Colony which has stood at his stud for the past two seasons at Lockwood in Central Victoria. 
The winner of $863,750 and a brilliant 1:51 mile rate performer at two years, Art Colony died at Winbak Farm Stud in Ontario, Canada last week. Owned by Englishman Tom Hill, Art Colony has his first Australian and Canadian crops on the ground and the six-year-old stallion was in the middle of his second North American breeding season when he died of a heart condition. Campbell said that Art Colony’s demise was a huge blow to Australian breeding as the son of Artsplace was an exciting young stallion that had outstanding confirmation and pedigree on top of a brilliant race record. “He certainly had both the pedigree and race record to make him a successful stallion and his first foals look brilliant and were born right here.” A half brother to Triple Bars ($524,567) and Where The Heart Is ($214,654) both 1:50 performers Art Colony raced in North America for Canadian trainer Casie Coleman who described the horse she purchased for $US157,000 as a “jaw dropper”.  “He was a gorgeous animal, good size, and perfect flawless gate,” Coleman said. The stallion was noted for his speed and determination as a racehorse. At two, he won the Governors Cup elimination and took second in a Breeders Crown elimination, Breeders Crown final, and Governors Cup final. At three, he took second in the Burlington Stakes division, Meadowlands Pace elimination, and North America Cup elimination and final. The loss has left Loddon Valley Stud without a “number one” stallion for the coming season. “He was supposed to be returning for the next two seasons and would have arrived back in Victoria in late August to serve a third book of mares, now we are at a loss to replace him,” Campbell said. “His first lot of babies are looking phenomenal. Breeders including ourselves were hoping to breed mares back to him. Stallions like Art Colony don’t come along every day.” Art Colony has over 50 plus foals as a result of his first Australian season and a further 100 foals from his first Canadian season at stud. “He is a big loss all round, we need young stallions and we would have loved to give him four years here to really find out if he was going to be exciting,” Campbell said.  John and Kay Campbell have four other stallions, Union Guy, Sports Town Denver Gift and Conch Deville standing at Loddon Valley. - David Aldred