In a remarkable achievement for a young stallion still early in his career, D’Argento—the striking grey Group 1 winner by the late champion So You Think—has propelled his four-year-old progeny to an impressive 39th ranking on the global list for prize money earned by winners in that age group during 2025.
Standing proudly at Bowness Stud in New South Wales, the ghostly grey sire saw his sons and daughters accumulate $725,215 in earnings as four-year-olds this calendar year, underscoring his emerging influence on the Australian thoroughbred scene. This success is particularly noteworthy given D’Argento’s relatively small first crop (his oldest progeny turned four in 2025).
His progeny posted a standout 37.8% winners-to-runners ratio, a figure that out-shines many established champion sires, including the likes of The Autumn Sun, Alabama Express, Written Tycoon, Castelvecchio, Deep Field, Toronado, Capitalist, and Shamus Award, among others.
This efficiency highlights the precocity and durability inherited from D’Argento, who himself was a tough and classy performer, winning the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas and placing behind legends like Winx.
In the prize money rankings for leading sires of four-year-olds, D’Argento slotted in just behind the progeny of Everest hero Yes Yes Yes, while finishing ahead of those sired by multiple Group race winner Cosmic Force.
It’s a testament to the quality over quantity approach at Bowness Stud, where D’Argento has been supported with selective breeding of quality mares. Leading the charge for D’Argento in 2025 was his flagship performer, the talented Statuario. The grey gelding, mirroring his sire’s distinctive coat, emerged as a genuine stayer with a series of bold performances at the highest levels.
Trained by Emma-Lee and David Browne, Statuario contested several black-type events throughout the year, earning placings in the Group 1 South Australian Derby (a strong second behind the upset filly winner Femminile), the Listed Ballarat Cup, the Listed Heatherlie Stakes, and the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes. These efforts not only boosted his own earnings significantly but also elevated D’Argento’s profile as a sire capable of producing classic-distance performers with stamina and class.
Statuario’s campaign exemplified the type of horse D’Argento is stamping: tough, progressive stayers who improve with age and distance. Bred on the successful So You Think cross that has produced multiple Group 1 winners, Statuario’s placings in elite company marked him as one of the standout three- and four-year-olds of the season.
Other contributors to D’Argento’s tally included promising types like Silva ‘n’ Suave, Rag Queen, All Kinds of Folk, Silver Dagger, and Sequista, several of whom earned black-type placings or wins, further bolstering the sire’s statistics.
At Bowness Stud, excitement is building for D’Argento’s future. With his progeny now maturing into their prime racing years, and younger crops showing similar promise (including early winners from his second crop), the son of So You Think appears poised for even greater heights. His blend of High Chaparral stamina through So You Think, combined with speed influences in his damline, offers breeders a versatile option in a market hungry for durable middle-distance horses.
As 2025 draws to a close, D’Argento’s Top 40 finish serves as a clear signal: this is a sire on the rise, and Bowness Stud’s pride and joy is delivering results that far exceed expectations for his stage of career. Breeders and owners alike will be watching closely as his progeny continue to make their mark in 2026 and beyond.
– Tully Potts
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