Fabregas Kicking Goals At Stud
It's the perfect combination that we all desire to breed that champion we all need. Recently retired star Fabregas ticks all the right boxes when its comes to being an alluring stud dog with a group one win, near flawless career statistics and proven bloodlines.
Having just 13 career starts he saluted the judge on 12 occasions, clocking some outstanding personal bests at Sandown (29.33), Hobart (25.85) and Shepparton (25.41). Fabregas young Victorian trainer David Hirst knew he was bound for greatness once he hit the trial track.
‘I knew he had something, he was flying at every trial track we took him too, he wasn't real good with the boxes at the start but once he got used to it we could really see how good he was' said Hirst who at just 23 years of age already has a group one national sprint title too his name.
‘I was very confident going into the big race, I knew he could win and yeah it all hit me once he crossed the line first'.
Despite this being a highlight reel moment for himself and owner Paul Westerveld, Hirst credits his most exciting and emotional victory to a memorial final at Horsham which was dedicated to the memory of his cousins who tragically passed away in a horror accident.
‘It was only a grade 5 final but to win that race was very special, very emotional. Considering it was dedicated to them it just has a lot of sentimental value to me' Hirst said emotionally.
Fabregas is not the only champion Hirst has a connection to with good friend and mentor Paul Stuart, a regular visitor to the Westerveld household.
‘Paul's been great in helping me with training greyhounds and is a great friend too. Having to pick Paul and Miata up from the airport is not a bad chore', said Hirst.
Since stepping off the race track and into the breeding barn, Fabregas has attracted some of the best broodbitches our country has to offer. During the month of December proven producer Glamorous , dam of Magic Sprite whelped a litter of 7, Dana Beatrice, 2009 group one golden easter egg winner was served, Gosford goldmine winner Nat's The One whelped a litter of 9 and 2009 NSW distance champion Smashing Amy whelped a litter of 5. It's no surprise Hirst is rapt with the attention Fabregas has gained since his retirement.
‘He's getting some real good litters on the ground and to attract the likes of those bitches, is very exciting. He was retired early in his career so hopefully it pays off and he throws a champion. Its looking positive with 100 straws already sold, said Hirst.
By newly inducted Hall of Fame sire Bombastic Shiraz out of Wicked Witch who has two previous litters to both Hallucinate and Meticulous produced the likes of; Wicked Trip (25.38 at Shepparton and 29.53 at Sandown), December Prince (2010 NCA Derby Consolation Winner at Longwood) and Tina Sparkle (2010 NCA Victorian Oaks at Ballarat, 24.53 at Bendigo and 23.49 at Horsham).
Wicked Witch also has two exciting litters in the process of rearing with 9 pups to Dyna Lachlan now at 13 months of age and a recently whelped 7 pups to boom sire Batrim Bale. Definitely keep an eye on both litters for another potential superstar.
Although some might ponder why Fabregas was retired when he was seemingly at the peak of his career needs to have a look at the breeding efforts of Token Prince and Magic Sprite. Both dogs had less than 20 starts and are two of the most popular and in demand stud dogs of all time. Its seems inevitable that stud master Paul Westerveld has just added another champion sire to his already successful Meticulous lodge with undoubtedly exciting times ahead.