Libertad and Coleman bolster Blue Gum’s stallion roster

Libertad, the first Group 1 winner in the Trilogy silks of Jason and Mel Stenning, will take up residence at the Stennings’ Blue Gum Farm in Victoria this season, joined by another new addition, Coleman.

Blue Gum confirmed the two new arrivals to their four-strong roster for 2026 on Wednesday, with Libertad, the Winterbottom Stakes winner from last year, set to stand at $9,900 (inc. GST), while Coleman, the first colt home in the 2024 Golden Slipper, debuts at $7,700 (inc. GST).

They join Flying Artie and Oxley Road at the stud near Euroa in Victoria.

“We are extremely proud to stand the first Group 1 winner to race in our silks. Securing Libertad, despite strong competition, marks a significant win for the farm as we continue to strengthen an already respected and successful stallion roster,” Jason Stenning said.

“He demonstrated class, consistency and longevity throughout his career. He won Group races at two, three, four and five. To my knowledge, the only other stallion in the modern era to achieve that feat is Lonhro.”

Libertad, a son of Russian Revolution, won the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes as a two-year-old, the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes as a three-year-old, the Group 2 Victory Stakes at four and the Winterbottom at five.

Out of a Charge Forward mare, he is a grandson of Miss Bussell, a Listed winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter, while his third dam is the multiple Group 1 winner Lurestina.

He is the second son of Russian Revolution to go to stud in Australia, while there are only a handful of active grandsons of champion sire Snitzel.

Coleman was a dual two-year-old stakes winner who, in addition to his narrow defeat in the Golden Slipper, was also placed in the Inglis Sires’ Produce under the guidance of Matt Laurie.

“Coleman’s two-year-old form speaks for itself, and above all, he is an outstanding physical specimen,” Stenning said.

“Our industry is built on speed, and he was an exceptionally fast horse. He broke the class record when winning the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes at Caulfield and was only narrowly beaten in the second-fastest Golden Slipper this decade.”

“It takes a very good horse to consistently produce the times he did.”

On that Golden Slipper performance, he was rated Timeform’s highest-rated two-year-old of that year.

“That is a remarkable achievement and one that should not be understated,” Stenning said.

Stenning said the farm was committed to providing stallions that could offer options for all ends of the market.

“At Blue Gum Farm, we strive to provide breeding solutions for every level of the industry. We deliver blue-chip opportunities for commercial breeders while also supporting grassroots participants in their pursuit of breeding a winner,” he said.