As Carly Simon sang, you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone … and such is the case with the wonderful stallion Red Ransom, who died last year.

But the good news is that this international champion sire is proving himself an outstanding sire of sires, so his impact on the world’s breeding game is continuing and growing, especially in Australia where he has emerged as a perfect cross with the plethora of Danzig blood that uniquely exists in this part of the world.

Already Red Ransom’s sons are making a move – Charge Forward was leading first-season sire in 2008-09 with a crop that produced the Group 1 winning 3YO filly Headway. And only the other day, another of Red Ransom’s European sons, Intikhab, sired the brilliant Group 1 Epsom Oaks winner Snow Fairy; and less than 24 hours later, the exciting trend continued when Pressday, by Red Ransom’s emerging son Domesday, easily won the Group 2 Sires’ Produce Stakes at Eagle Farm.

It’s worth noting that all these young sires have achieved their success without receiving massive numbers of mares – but that is about to change as breeders are realising the value of the Red Ransom line and are jumping on board as the momentum gathers.

The focus on the Red Ransom line is a phenomenon that is unique to Australia with the announcement of three Group 1-winning sons – Duporth, All American and Onemorenomore – retiring from the racetrack for the 2010 breeding season. All three are firmly entrenched at leading farms in the Hunter Valley

So, the question exists – who will be the one?

Kitchwin Hills has put its money on the impressive Duporth and is buoyed by the comments from many who knew Red Ransom very well that Duporth cuts a striking resemblance to his sire. Duporth, as you can see by these remarkable pictures, is a chip off the old block. (Duporth is pictured right).

Importantly, Duporth is such an imposing individual that Kitchwin Hills has found that a high percentage of breeders who have inspected him have been so impressed they have made bookings on the spot. “Breeders are increasing aware of the importance that type plays when breeding commercially. It’s hard to imagine a better looking stallion at stud than Duporth,” said Kitchwin Hills’ manager Michael Malone.

Kitchwin Hills already has developed a very serious stallion in Dane Shadow, who this weekend, with only two crops of racing age from very limited numbers (54 and 50 foals), will be represented by three Group 1 runners in Brisbane – and the stud has the same confidence in Duporth, who retired as Red Ransom\\s only Australian Group 1 winner over the signature speed distance of 1200 metres. Remember, speed is essential in a stallion.

Dane Shadow has recently been ranked as Australia’s No. 1 stallion by highly respected ratings agencies Timeform and Apex. “We left no stone unturned to find a stallion that had the same appeal, and demanded the same attention, as Dane Shadow, and we will be putting the same resources and more into Duporth,” Malone confirmed.

Duporth is from the champion Success Express mare, Staging, who has already proven her blood mixes very well with Danehill, by producing the Group 1-winning juvenile Excites (by Danewin) and the Group 2 2YO winner, Tickets (by Redoute’s Choice).

Will Duporth emerge as Red Ransom’s most sought-after son? Kitchwin Hills believes in him, but time will tell.

Duporth (br h 2006, Red Ransom (USA)-Staging, by Success Express (USA)) stands at $22,000 (inc. GST).