Overview
Redoute's Choice (15 August 1996 – 26 March 2019) was a bay Australian Thoroughbred stallion noted for success both on the racetrack and at stud. Bred from one of the region's prominent sire lines, he rose to prominence as a multiple Group One-winning performer and later became one of Australasia's most influential breeding stallions. He was officially recognised as champion first season sire in Australia in 2004 and led the sire premiership in 2006.
Pedigree and characteristics
By the internationally important sire Danehill, Redoute's Choice combined a pedigree that blended speed and class with a compact, athletic conformation typical of top milers and sprinters. His female family contained several high-class performers; his dam was closely related to other Group One winners, which helped underscore the depth of quality in his immediate bloodlines. These genetic attributes contributed to his ability to pass on precocity, speed, and versatility to his offspring.
Racing career and performance
Redoute's Choice enjoyed a successful racing career as a juvenile and three-year-old, earning multiple Group One victories and establishing himself among the leading horses of his generation in Australia. While not every classic distance suited him, his combination of turn-of-foot, competitive temperament and adaptability made him a pattern race performer and a natural candidate for a stallion career. After retiring from racing, he entered stud duties and was based at Arrowfield Stud.
Stud record and influence
At stud, Redoute's Choice became a pre-eminent sire of stakes winners and commercial yearlings. He consistently produced horses that performed at the highest level in Australia and New Zealand, including numerous Group winners across sprint and middle-distance categories. His influence extended through both sons and daughters — many of his male progeny went on to stud careers, while his daughters have produced high-class performers, reinforcing his impact on subsequent generations.
Legacy, distinctions and death
Redoute's Choice is widely regarded as a transformational stallion for Australasian bloodstock, credited with improving the speed and marketability of many pedigrees. He earned industry awards for sire premierships and shaped breeding decisions for a decade. Arrowfield Stud announced his death on 26 March 2019; he was humanely euthanised at the age of 22, and his passing prompted widespread acknowledgement of his contribution to racing and breeding in industry reports.
Notable facts
- Son of Danehill, part of a sire line that had major global influence.
- Recognised as champion first season sire (2004) and champion sire (2006) in Australia.
- Stood at Arrowfield Stud and became a cornerstone of Australasian breeding programmes.
- Remembered for siring precocious, fast, and commercially successful horses, as well as producing female lines that continued to excel.
Redoute's Choice left a durable imprint on modern bloodstock in the Southern Hemisphere. Breeders and racing historians continue to cite his progeny and descendants as examples of how a single influential stallion can shape the characteristics and fortunes of regional racing for many years.