Equiano stars at Tattersales

Equiano (Fr) was the star turn at the Tattersalls stallion parade before its February Sale at Newmarket on Thursday.

The two-time Group 1 Royal Ascot King’s Stand Stakes winner is back at Newsells Park after his latest southern book at Swettenham Stud.

Newsells Park’s Julian Dollar said Equiano had been incredibly laid back at home and appeared to have taken his time in Australia very well. “We were very happy with the parade, it’s always good to bring the horses up here, there’s 400 people to see the stallions and it’s a good opportunity for us to show off our very good looking horses,” he said.

“Equiano looks fantastic, he’s really acclimatised to life in Australia. He grows his summer coat down there so he will probably start to grow a winter coat now he’s back with us. He thrives at Swettenham Stud and they do a fantastic job with him.

“I’m always quite realistic and grounded but there is quite a vibe about him with trainers. A lot of them have rung us and said they are really thrilled with their Equiano two-year-olds, all they want to do is eat and work and they all want to run tomorrow.

“It gets you quite excited in the hope that he could be a really exciting first season sire but we will take it one step at a time.”

The 2014 English flat season commences with the Lincoln meeting at Doncaster on March 29.

Equiano’s first Australian bred yearlings have sold for $120,000 (Gold Coast Magic Millions) and $160,000 (NZB Karaka Sale). He has another 25 lots entered for the Inglis Melbourne Premier starting on March 2.