Reigning US Trotter of the Year to shuttle

It’s happening. The greatest trotter ever to head downunder is on his way this season.

Never before has a US Trotter of the Year stood in Australia or New Zealand – let alone a reigning US Trotter of the Year who achieved the feat as a three-year-old.

Tactical Approach is that horse.

Alabar and Nevele R in conjunction with Diamond Creek Farm are thrilled to announce that they have secured the lifetime Southern Hemisphere rights to greatest squaregaiter ever to shuttle.

And no, this isn’t frozen semen. He will be standing in Victoria, in the flesh with his fresh semen available to breeders throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Always industry leaders, Diamond Creek have taken the position with Tactical Approach that he will exclusively be available in North America and Australia/New Zealand.

Horse people from other countries wanting access to Tactical Approach will have to come to the sales to buy them.

“We have had our eyes out for another trotting stallion. Tactical Approach fits everything we were looking for,” said Diamond Creek’s Adam Bowden, “Pedigree, performance, and physical attributes plus intelligence, it’s all there.”

Tactical Approach is fully syndicated and fully booked in his debut North American season in 2024.

Tactical Approach is coming off a memorable season in which he won the Hambletonian, Breeders Crown and the Kentucky Futurity - becoming the first horse since Muscle Hill to win all three of these blue-ribbon classics.

Not only did he win these races, he overcame barrier 10 in the Hambletonian and a second line draw in the Breeders Crown final. No other horse in history has done this.

So dominant was he in 2023 that he won $800,000 more than the next best three-year-old colt trotter and $300,000 more than any other trotter in North America.

Retired at the end of 2023, his career record stands at 24 starts for 12 wins and 7 placings for $1,544,489. His best time is 1:50.2.

A great gaited trotter with extreme speed he never made a break in a race and his racelines show he trotted his final quarter in 26 and change twelve times with a best of a scorching 25.4.

Trainer Nancy Takter had this to say about Tactical Approach:

“He has great stamina and he’s capable of racing any which way. He’s big and strong and I’d say he easily has the biggest stride on a trotter, for full extension, that I’ve ever had. It’s quite impressive if you see still shots of him in full stride.”

From the first crop of the red-hot siring son of Muscle Hill, Tactical Landing, Tactical Approach undoubtedly possesses a pedigree befitting of his ability.

He is out of the Donato Hanover mare Sarcy (1:53.2, $261,333) and is thus a half-brother to Double Deceiver (1:50.4, $770,954, 2nd US 3yo Breeders Crown).

He counts the Hambletonian Oaks winner Southwind Allaire (1:53.4, $733,534) as his second dam.

Alabar principal Alan Galloway says, “It is almost unbelievable that we have secured the reigning Hambletonian winner to stand in Australia. This is a rare opportunity that I thought would never occur.”

While Nevele R Stud General Manager Ged Mooar stated, “We are extremely excited to be able to secure the rights and bring down the 2023 US Trotter of the Year, the first ever trotter of the year to stand at stud downunder. He has an exceptional race record and top-class pedigree that is an ideal cross with a multitude of Australasian mares. It’s great to be involved in another stallion acquisition with our partners Alabar and Diamond Creek.”

Tactical Approach will stand for a fee of $9,900 (incl GST) in Australia and $9,000 (plus GST) in New Zealand. Multiple mare discounts will be available.