PROISIR

by Renée Geelen

Proisir (Choisir-Prophet Jewel, by Encosta de Lago) launched himself into the big leagues with three Gr1 winning three year-olds and five Gr1 winners in total this season, and the young sire is likely to earn his first NZ Champion Sire title in 2022/23

He’s always been a promising stallion and he went to a new level this season, particularly with the horses that travelled to Australia. Legarto and Prowess blew them away, didn’t they?” said Rich Hill Stud’s John Thompson. “His Gr1 winners were conceived off $7,000 and $9,000 service fees and he’s really upgraded his mares. Proisir’s achievement in breaking the prizemoney record with his progeny is outstanding given the low prizemoney here, and he’s had to compete with eight-time Champion Sire Savabeel for the title which is an indication of both stallion’s achievements.”

In June, Proisir became the first New Zealand sire whose progeny have earned more than $4million in a single season at home in 2022/23. Savabeel came close in 2018/19 when his progeny earned $3.95million on New Zealand soil. Of course these figures don’t include international earnings, and Proisir has had an incredible season with his progeny in Australia as well as at home.

Retired to stud in 2015, Proisir initially stood at NZ$7,000 and was popular at that fee, covering 145 mares. His popularity at low fees continued with many breeders seeing his potential and it wasn’t until his fourth season when his mare numbers dropped below 100. As soon as his stock started running (and winning) his fee went up and so did his mare numbers with 152 mares in 2020, 126 in 2021 and 169 in 2022. The book full sign went up for 2023 months ago!

“Last year he served 180 mares and we decided to restrict him to 150 this year to help his longevity. His book filled much faster than we expected, especially as his fee jumped from $17,500 to $70,000, but people appreciate what great value he is considering his industry leading statistics. Breeders are supporting him with their best mares, and Darley purchased a share in him so they could send him mares. Most of the dams of his good horses are coming back this year, and there are plenty of quality young race mares in his book too.”

What is interesting from looking at Proisir’s covering figures is that his current crop of three year-olds came from his smallest book to date, which has to be exciting for his future as more numbers hit the track. With his oldest crop, born 2016, now rising seven, Proisir has had 234 runners and 13 stakes winners, an impressive 5.5% SW/runners ratio.

When it comes to commercial success, it is Gr1 winners that matter, and Proisir has had a simply outstanding season with five Gr1 winners in 2022/23.

Levante (Proisir-Island Doy, by Doyoun) became Proisir’s first Gr1 winner in January 2022 when she won the Gr1 Telegraph Stakes, backing it up with a win in the Gr1 Waikato Sprint at her next start. This season, as a six year-old, she added a second Gr1 Telegraph Stakes and the Gr1 Otaki Maori WFA Stakes. Levante who won her first four starts in succession at three, has won twelve of her 23 starts with earnings over $1million. won first up at three before twice finishing third; behind Legarto in the Gr3 Soliloquy Stakes and Pier in the Gr1 NZ Two Thousand Guineas (yes, against the colts). Back in the autumn, Prowess was unbeaten. She won the Gr2 Auckland Guineas, Listed Karaka Million 3YO Classic, Gr2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic, Gr1 New Zealand Stakes (against the older horses) then crossed the ditch to win the Gr1 Flight Stakes. A dual Gr1 winner of seven of her nine starts, the ultra consistent Prowess has earnings over $1.2million.

Dark Destroyer (Proisir-All Can Party, by All American) was an excellent three year-old last season, winning the Gr2 Auckland Guineas and the Gr3 Rough Habit Plate. At four, in 2022/23, Dark Destroyer won the Gr1 Tarzino Trophy in September 2022 first up to become Proisir’s second Gr1 winner.

Proisir’s collection of Gr1 class horses doesn’t end with his five Gr1 winners. There is also Gr3 winner Riodini (Proisir-Giardini, by Perfectly Ready) from his first crop who has placed in the Gr1 Epsom Handicap, Gr1 George Main Stakes and Gr1 Levin Stakes. Listed winner Waitak (Proisir-Repo Bay, by Shocking) ran third in the Gr1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes, while three fillies have placed in the Gr1 NZ Oaks in different seasons; being Feel The Rush, Itz Aspen Colorado and Vancooga. Yonce (Proisir-Ziva, by Zabeel) was a star in 2021/22, winning her first six starts in succession, then running fourth in the Gr1 Queen of the Turf Stakes.

To recap, from four crops of racing age aged three and up, Proisir has thirteen stakes winners and five Gr1 winners. It is impressive however you cut the data.

And then the three year-olds came out to play. Pier (Proisir-La Vitesse, by Darci Brahma) went into New Zealand’s Guineas carnival in November as the winner of two of his three starts, including a last start victory in the Gr2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas. In the Gr1 NZ Two Thousand Guineas, he stuck his nose out to win, beating Desert Lightning (Pride of Dubai) with the filly Prowess (Proisir) in third.

Legarto (Proisir-Geordie Girl, by Towkay) had won her maiden as a late two year-old, won twice more at three to go into the Gr1 NZ One Thousand Guineas unbeaten. She made a mockery of the field, winning by nearly five lengths, then won the Gr2 Eight Carat Classic at her next start to take her record to five wins from five starts. At her next start, the Listed Karaka Million 3YO Classic, Legarto had an uncharacteristic run, finishing in fourth to Prowess (Proisir). Punters could be forgiven for thinking every good horse in New Zealand was by Proisir. And just to prove that her first five starts were no fluke, Legarto headed to Australia where she won the Gr1 Australian Guineas against Australia’s best colts and geldings including Jacquinot.

Prowess (Proisir-Donna Marie, by Don Eduardo) won her only start at two, then

If Proisir hadn’t been unlucky enough to run into six-time Gr1 winner Dundeel in his racing career, he might not have been affordable for NZ breeders. Proisir wasn’t offered at auction as a yearling and was sent to the stable of Champion trainer Gai Waterhouse by his owners. First seen as an early three year-old, Proisir won his first three starts in succession, beating future Gr1 winner Norzita at his second start, then winning the Gr3 Newcastle Spring Stakes at his third. At his fourth start, he ran second by a head to Dundeel in the Gr1 Spring Champion Stakes, then was set an even tougher task in the Gr1 WS Cox Plate. Proisir was sent out in typical Waterhouse tactics to lead and try and dominate the race. He led until the turn when the effort was too much and he ground away while Ocean Park, All Too Hard, and Pierro sprinted home off the strong pace to form the trifecta. All three are now successful stallions.

Sent for a deserved spell, Proisir returned in the autumn to run third in the Gr2 Hobartville Stakes, behind Pierro and Rebel Dane. Next up, he ran second by half a length to Dundeel in the Gr1 Randwick Guineas with the rest of the field over three lengths behind this pair.

A consistent horse whose only miss was in the Gr1 WS Cox Plate, Proisir retired with three wins and three placings from seven starts. The form around him is incredible with horses like Dundeel, Pierro, Ocean Park, All Too Hard, Rebel Dane, and Norzita.

By

globetrotting sprinter

Choisir, who changed Australia’s view of Royal Ascot forever when he won the Gr1 Kings Stand Stakes and Gr1 Golden Jubilee in one brilliant week twenty years ago, Proisir is one of 104 stakes winners for Choisir. Choisir’s sire sons include Starspangledbanner (30 stakes winners), Olympic Glory (14) and Proisir (13). Winner of six races including two in Sydney and Brisbane, Proisir’s dam Prophet Jewel (Encosta de Lago) went to Choisir only twice resulting in Proisir and Gr1 Caulfield Guineas winner Divine Prophet whose first crop are three year-olds and include Gr2 winner Promitto and See You In Heaven. Prophet

PROISIR, Brown colt, 2009

Jewel has also left winners by Dylan Thomas, Dane Shadow, Exceed and Excel, and her current three year-old is Dear Jewel (Snitzel) is a winner and ran fifth in the Gr2 Angus Armanasco Stakes recently.

Proisir’s family is an old colonial one featuring many horses who’ve won multiple races including Gr3 winner and Gr1 placed Idea who won twelve races, Gr1 placed Listed winner of five races Perpetual Check and Listed winner of seven races Casaquinman. But it is the combination with Choisir that has elevated this family to Gr1 level in Australia. It’s early days for Proisir with five Gr1 winners and 13 stakes winners, and perhaps too early to find trends. His Gr1 winners are out of mares by Darci Brahma (Danehill),

Don Eduardo (Zabeel), Doyoun (Mill Reef), Towkay (Last Tycoon) and All American (Red Ransom). Of his stakes winners, only Colombia (Zabeel) mares have left two stakes winners; Gr3 winner Aimee’s Jewel (Proisir-Aimee’s Idol, by Colombia) and Gr3 winner Vitesse Bo (Proisir-Cissy Bowen, by Colombia).

Proisir’s other stakes winners are from mares by O’Reilly (Last Tycoon), One Cool Cat (Storm Cat), Perfectly Ready (More Than Ready), Shocking (Street Cry), Ekraar (Red Ransom), and Zeditave (The Judge).

Three of these stakes winners are from the Sir Tristram sireline, while two are from the Roberto sireline and two from the Last Tycoon sireline. Breeders might also note that Colombia and Don Eduardo are both from the Eight Carat family.

Choisir has done well with mares by Encosta de Lago with six stakes winners, including Proisir, from 64 named foals (10%). For crosses with more than ten named foals, Choisir also has superior figures with mares by Galileo (4 stakes winners at 25%), Montjeu (4 stakes winners at 21%), Marauding (3 stakes winners at 23%), Zabeel (3 stakes winners at 12%), and Rory’s Jester (3 stakes winners at 10%).

Choisir has gone well with mares from the Sadler’s Wells sire line with 10 stakes winners at a rate of 8% to named foals, while Danzig line mares have the same number of stakes winners but at half the rate. Sir Tristram, Fairy King, Storm Cat, and Nijinsky line mares all feature well too.

Proisir’s stellar season in 2022/23 will see him gain his first NZ Champion Sire title and with five Gr1 winners in the bag, his record stands alongside the best young stallions from this part of the world. With a sharp increase in quality in the mares he will cover from this season onwards, much more is yet to come from this young exciting horse.