Successful junior reining stallion Inferno Sixty Six has a new home.
Officials involved with the stallion announced Friday, Oct. 8, that the flashy National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity Open Reserve Champion and winner of more than $216,165 in the show pen will now stand at John and Nancy Tague’s Toyon Ranch. He previously stood at Cardinal Ranch in Aubrey, Texas.
A son of EquiStat Elite $5 Million Sire Gunnatrashya and out of millionaire producer and NRHA Hall of Famer Snip O Gun (by One Gun), Inferno Sixty Six is off to a fast start to his stud career. As of Aug. 31, he ranked seventh on the EquiStat Junior Sire Reining Statistics and was the leading reining freshman sire of 2020 based on earnings recorded by EquiStat.
Inferno Sixty Six has found success beyond any expectations, owner Domenico Lomuto said in a statement announcing the horse’s relocation.
“Therefore, we thought it was time to take a further step as far as his sire career goes,” he said in the statement. “That’s why we choose a prime partner like Toyon Ranch that will be his new home.
“Our friend John Tague is investing in a modern and innovative breeding program based on a selection of the most important mares available at the moment in the reining world. Cardinal has been the ideal place to give birth to ‘Inferno’s’ saga. His show career will always be linked to [trainer] Franco Bertolani and this Ranch. While saying good-bye, I will never get tired to express my thankfulness to [Cardinal Hill owner] João Marcos.”
Inferno’s breeding manager, Giorgia Codeluppi – aka ‘Mamma Giorgia’ – will carry on with her mission. She started the colt in the round pen when he was only 2, and even then noticed his special attitude that served him well inside and outside of the arena.
“I was there when he grew into a show-pen Champion and later a young and promising Sire,” she said in the statement. “I’ll keep looking after him in close cooperation with Toyon Ranch staff. They’re all excellent professionals in the breeding industry, under both technical and organizing aspects.”
So far, the stallion’s leading earners in EquiStat are Starfire Sixtysix ($52,762), Winding Inferno ($43,369) and Blue Inferno ($40,597).
John Tague was excited for Inferno to join the roster at the facility in Pilot Point, Texas. It currently advertises stallion duties for EquiStat Elite $1 Million Sire Shine Chic Shine, The Run For A Million Co-Champion No Smoking Required, Shine N Spook and Colonels Smart Spook.
“I am thrilled to add this excellent new guest to the others already standing at our Ranch,” Tague said in the statement. “We are setting ambitious programs for our broodmares, and Inferno will be an active and important addition to our journey towards building future reining legends.”
