Just when he might think about slowing down, Bart Cummings is about to embark on a new breeding venture with Queensland Derby winner Empires Choice set to stand at Princes Farm this spring.

The master trainer has bred many horses from his own mares over the years most notably Saintly, winner of the 1996 Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup.

Standing stallions is something different for Cummings but he believes the environment at his property north-west of Sydney is ideal.

“There is a little bit of work to be done on the facilities at the farm over the next three weeks but it should be ready for the breeding season,” Cummings said.

“Geoff White stood Marscay next door at Robrick Lodge and I think Empires Choice should do well.”

Although Empires Choice’s mother Rosie’s Star is a daughter of 1988 Melbourne Cup winner Empire Rose, Cummings is not looking to Empires Choice to produce only stayers.

“He ran good races over sprint distances as a two-year-old,” he said.

By supersire Redoute’s Choice, Empires Choice ran second to Casino Prince at his first start in the Skyline Stakes (1200m) and was runner-up to Tarleton in the Pago Pago over the same distance.

As an early three-year-old he was runner-up to Court Command in the $1 million Golden Rose (1400m) and finally broke his maiden over 1500 metres at Hawkesbury in March 2007.

His other two career victories came later that year when he claimed the Rough Habit Plate (2020m) on the way to his win in the Queensland Derby (2400m).

Empires Choice was retired from racing in February this year after suffering a soft tissue injury to a foreleg.
(Source: Racing & Sports)