Top sprinter Lofty Strike retired to stand at Victoria’s Swettenham Stud

Lofty Strike, one of the best sprinters of his generation, will join the Swettenham Stud stallion roster in 2024.

A son of champion sire Snitzel out of the 2013 Golden Slipper Overreach, Lofty Strike retires as the winner of three races from 12 starts under trainer Julius Sandhu.

The rising five-year-old claimed the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes as his most important victory to complement wins at his first two starts as a juvenile.

In defeat, Lofty Strike’s potential as a future stallion was also revealed when runner-up in the Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket Handicap – Group 1 races during the Melbourne autumn carnival that have stood the test as two of Australia’s best sprints.

Lofty Strike was a controversial scratching on veterinary advice from the Blue Diamond Stakes won by Daumier, a colt he had beaten by almost two lengths in a lead-up to Victoria’s most prestigious two-year-old race.

“It’s every studmaster’s dream to stand a son of Snitzel but to have one out of a Golden Slipper winner, it’s just absolutely extreme,” Swettenham’s Adam Sangster said.

“You do not get stallions like this as in Lofty Strike.

“He’s an incredible-looking individual. He’s got quality, he’s got balance and he should be very popular with breeders here in Australasia.”

Sangster said Lofty Strike appeared on Swettenham’s radar after winning on debut at Flemington in January 2022.

A Blue Diamond Prelude victory at Group 3 level only confirmed their interest.

“He did an exceptional job throughout his racing career at the highest level and that is something he will breed into his stock,” Sangster said.

For Sangster, there is also a sense of nostalgia attached to the announcement with Lofty Strike a grandson of former Swettenham resident Rory’s Jester.

“It’s so lovely to have history repeating itself … being a grandson of Rory’s Jester,” Sangster said.

“It’s been 30 years since Swettenham Stud was established and now to have a grandson of Rory’s Jester in Lofty Strike is a great honour to stand him here in 2024.”

Lofty Strike will stand at an introductory fee of $22,000.