Leading Australian sire Encosta de Lago pensioned

Encosta de Lago, a leading Australian sire and Group 2 winner, has been pensioned from stallion duty at Coolmore’s Australian base.

The 22-year-old son of Fairy King has sired 16 crops of racing age for 1,033 winners and combined progeny earnings of more than $118.6 million. He has sired 75 graded/group stakes winners and finished 2008 and 2009 as Australia’s leading sire. Encosta de Lago was also Hong Kong’s leading sire in 2012.

Encosta de Lago has sired champions in four countries, led by 2010 Hong Kong Horse of the Year Jumbo Star. He also sired Australian champions Racing to Win and Alinghi, New Zealand champions Princess Coup and Puccini, Hong Kong champion Liberator, and South African champion Delago Deluxe.

Other top runners sired by Encosta de Lago include Group 1 winners Lashed, Quay Lago, Sirmione, Smokin’ Joey, Road To Rock, Manhattan Rain, Mnemosyne, Douro Valley, Newport, Titanic Jack.

“It’s a pleasure to be associated with a horse of this caliber,” said Tom Magnier of Coolmore. “He has done it all as a stallion and we are looking forward to further quality performers emerging over the coming seasons from his final crops. We are lucky to have an interest in Rubick who looks to have the potential to represent Encosta with distinction, not only on the racecourse over the coming months, but as a top-class young sire prospect for the future.”

Bred in Australia by Emirates Park, Encosta de Lago won three of eight starts for earnings of $372,603, highlighted by the Australian Group 1 Vichealth Cup, and the Group 2 Ascot Vale Stakes and Bill Stutt Stakes. He also placed in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas.

Encosta de Lago is out of the winning Star Way mare Shoal Creek, who is a half sister to Golden Slipper winner Flying Spur.