Ohio Pacing Stallion Catch The Fire Is Heading To Australia

The Catch The Fire syndicate is proud to announce the Sire Catch The Fire (aka Mr. 1:46) will now serve a book of mares in North America and the Southern Hemisphere. After negotiating with multiple breeding farms in Australia, Catch The Fire will spend his winters down under, breeding at Somerset Farms in Queensland, Australia under the care of Pete and Chantal McMullen.

BRISBANE, Australia & COLUMBUS, Ohio - May 25, 2023 - PRLog -- Catch The Fire, the fifth fastest stallion of all time was a unique prospect having raced successfully from the age of two to five. In his juvenile season, he won a leg and the final of the rich Kentucky Sires Stakes Series where he paced 1:49.4 to win the $250,000 feature whilst also finishing third in the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes Final.

At three, he was the winner of the Delvin Miller Adios Pace where he took out the $375,000 final in an unbelievable time of 1:49.3 on a sloppy track. He was an outstanding winner of his elimination in the Little Brown Jug pacing the same time of 1:49.3 before finishing third in the final.

At four he was the winner of the $325,000 Dan Patch Stakes at Hoosier Park where he became harness racing's newest millionaire, stopping the clock in a sizzling 1:48.1. That same season he lowered his lifetime mark, winning his first Sam McKee Memorial at the Meadowlands in 1:47.2.

Catch The Fire was given an opportunity to come back as a five-year-old where he was afforded the chance to defend his crown in the $278,000 Sam McKee Memorial. He defended the title in exhilarating fashion pacing 1:46.4 for the mile becoming the eighth equal fastest pacer of all time, making him the track record holder for entires at the world's most famous harness racing track. The fact that he did this on the back of serving his second book of mares makes it even more phenomenal.

Syndicate partner Greg Luther stated: "We worked out a phenomenal agreement to allow Catch The Fire to breed 150 mares in Australia and unlimited mares in New Zealand each year, while still breeding a full book of 140 in Ohio. Affectionately known as 'Mr. 1:46', he is the only sire in recent memory to have an increased stud fee for each of his first 3 years standing at stud in Ohio. Now he gets to take his speed, heart, and Captaintreacherous pedigree Down Under during our off-season here in the US."

Syndicate partner Charlie Taylor added: "Fire showed his determination and heart right from the start. While training down as a yearling he showed all the characteristics of a Great Horse. He proved his versatility by winning in 149.3 or better on every size track against the best of his class. When ask to step up to dual duties of a sire and racehorse he thrived against the best in the world. He not only won but became one of the fastest stallions of all time. Catch the Fire is the Fastest son (146.4) of Captain Treacherous at stud as of today. That is a very strong statement considering the other magnificent horses from his father. I am very excited that Fire will have the opportunity to continue his legacy in Australia with Somerset Farms."

Catch The Fire is bred on what all signs point to being the new 'golden cross,' being by the heir to the throne in Captaintreacherous, and out of the Bettor's Delight mare, Dream Out Loud p3,1:55.4. She is the dam of six foals for four winners with Catch The Fire at the top of the class. She has produced other progeny race timed in 1:52 or better. This would include Breeders Crown and stakes performers Captains Place (Captaintreacherous) and Absolute Intent (Well Said) who are also six-figure earners.

Dream Out Loud's half-sister Life'sliltreasure (Life Sign) is the dam of a millionaire herself in Tara Hill Stud resident stallion, Control The Moment (Well Said), with their own dam Treasure For Trish (Jate Lobell) being the dam of eight winners from 10 foals.

There is plenty to be excited about in the pedigree and performance that are the hallmarks of any great stallion prospect. And despite the fact that Catch The Fire will reside in Queensland, all down-under breeders looking to upgrade their bloodlines have an excellent opportunity to do so in this exceptional son of boom sire, Captaintreacherous.

Sugar Valley Farms principal, Joe McLead was over the moon at the opportunity for his resident stallion and where he was headed. "The stallion is a pleasure to have here on farm, he is really easy to handle, and his progeny are all very adept at being very intelligent and impressive individuals. He was always just an impressive individual on the racetrack who carried himself well and got better as time went on. Every year he got faster which is a trait of a horse with a desire to be good," said McLead.

"The first year we had him (2021) when he bred and raced, we limited his book to 85 mares. Not many horses could assume stallion duties and race 19 times and hit the board in 14 of those starts winning $618,000," said McLead.

"Breeders are going to love the way he looks. He is a solid individual with great confirmation, and he really has the perfect package from a physical standpoint to be a huge success. The yearlings that we are offering at the sales this year from his first crop and even the babies who have been foaled this year by him all have a lot of leg under them. They are great-bodied and really carry on the confirmation traits of Catch The Fire himself and the Somebeachsomewhere and Captaintreacherous line which we have all come to expect. I am really confident about how he will be received in the fall when we offer his first crop at auction," he said.

Somerset Farm partners added.

The Sunshine State of Queensland has undergone significant growth in recent times, quickly establishing itself as the most progressive harness racing jurisdiction in the southern hemisphere.

The likes of the rich QBred scheme and Winter Constellations Carnival have put 'down under' harness racing on notice, making the state the envy of its neighbors, and attracting interstate and overseas interest from trainers, owners, and breeders alike.

Now the state has caught the attention of North America, with the owners of the fifth-fastest stallion of all time Catch The Fire sending their champion son of Captaintreacherous to the Sunshine State.

Established and operational in 2012 by Pete and Chantal McMullen, Somerset Farms has quickly developed into one of the finest harness racing training centers in Queensland, situated perfectly in-between Brisbane and Toowoomba.

Catch The Fire will be shipping overseas in July and will begin breeding year-round in both hemispheres.

For more information on breeding to Catch The Fire, contact Sugar Valley Farms in Delaware, OH at 740-363-5618

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