Alta Christiano's promising stud career over

By Dave Di Somma - Harness News Desk 

Alta Christiano,  a Group One winning son of Christian Cullen,  has died in Australia as the result of a colic attack, aged 10.

His death occurred at the Tipperary Equine Stud in New South Wales, where he was earmarked as a stallion of immense potential. The first four sires in his pedigree were all champion, premiership-winning sires (Christian Cullen, Fake Left, Vance Hanover and Noodlum) and he had the former NZ Broodmare of the Year, Black Watch as his fourth dam.

 In his first season he left 78 foals, among them the talented I'm a Blake, Fake News and While They Pray.

Alta Christiano was bought by North Canterbury trainer Paul Kerr Kerr  for $50,000 at the 2011 Australasian Classic sale.  He won his first four races including the Kindergarten Stakes in New Zealand and was sold to clients of high profile Australian trainer Gary Hall in Perth in 2013.

Leg injuries were a problem during much of his racing career  though he ended up winning 13 races overall.  

Hall had said :  “Of all the top sons of Christian Cullen he had the gait that was closest to ‘Cullen’ himself as I’d seen. He’s got all the attributes you could want in a horse – he’s fast, he can stay and he’s great gaited.”

Alta Christiano had just completed his busiest ever season, covering in excess of 160 mares and, according to Tipperary, had advanced bookings for 40 mares next season.​