What do you get when you pit a bunch of talented speed horses accustomed to securing easy leads against each other in a championship race? You get Saturday’s running of the $2 million, Grade 1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita Park, and maybe — just maybe — you get a stretch-running winner.
Month: November 2023
Mostahdaf Bound For Beech House Stud In 2024 As Shadwell UK Roster Relocates
Shadwell homebred Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}–Handassa {GB}, by Dubawi {Ire}), a dual Group 1 winner, will stand at Beech House Stud next season after a final start in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf on Saturday, the operation announced on Thursday. He will join the Shadwell UK roster which is relocating permanently to Newmarket.
Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the dark bay won five of his first six starts at three, including the G3 Darley S. At four, both the G3 Gordon Richards S. and G3 September S. went his way, and he also ran second twice more–in the G3 Brigadier Gerard S. and in Royal Ascot's G2 Hardwicke S.
It was as a 5-year-old that the son of Handassa really shone, taking the G2 Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia in February, before a close fourth in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in Dubai a month later. His final two starts were won by a combined five lengths, with the G1 Prince Of Wales's S. going his way at Royal Ascot, and then he secured the G1 Juddmonte International at York in August. His current record features 10 wins in 16 starts with earnings of $3,000,193.
Stephen Collins, European bloodstock manager for Shadwell, said, “Shadwell are delighted that Mostahdaf will retire to the newly refurbished Beech House stallion complex in Newmarket. He has all the attributes to become a successful stallion.
“Mostahdaf was an outstanding winner of both the Group 1 Prince of Wales's S., the highest-rated winner of the race since Dubai Millennium in 2000, and the Group 1 Juddmonte International S. at York in the same year. A truly remarkable historic double achieved by only two horses in the last 50 years.
“He possesses a pedigree packed with natural speed being closely related to two champion Group 1 winning sprinters. Mostahdaf demonstrated his incredible turn of foot by winning over seven-furlongs on debut and winning three races at a mile at three before being stepped up in trip.
“A quality, well balanced, imposing individual, with an athletic walk, he should prove very popular with breeders.”
Out of the listed winner Handassa, Mostahdaf is a half-brother to the high-class Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who won the Sun Chariot S. and Falmouth S., both Group 1 races. Under his third dam are the pair of Group 1-winning sprinters and sires Pastoral Pursuits (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}) and Goodricke (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}).
Angus Gold, racing manager for Shadwell, said, “Mostahdaf has been a top-class horse for the last three seasons, from showing his speed when winning five of his six races as a 3-year-old between seven furlongs and a mile; he then displayed his clear versatility and ability over further.
“Mostahdaf never missed a day's training and was a thorough professional throughout his career; his enthusiasm for his work, together with his outstanding physique and speed, should make him a very attractive prospect for breeders.”
John Gosden said of the 128-rated 5-year-old, “Mostahdaf has always been a pleasure to train. Sound and always positive and generous in his work. His action is superb and fluent with a high cruising speed and electric acceleration. A horse who has been very consistent throughout his career.”
A fee for Mostahdaf and the rest of the UK roster will be announced in due course. Formerly Shadwell's UK stallion base, Nunnery Stud will remain a private base for the foaling of all of Shadwell's mares vising UK-based stallions.
The post Mostahdaf Bound For Beech House Stud In 2024 As Shadwell UK Roster Relocates appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
Derby Winner Adayar Joins Hukum At Darley Japan Next Year
Godolphin's G1 Derby winner Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}–Anna Salai, by Dubawi {Ire}) will join Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) at Darley Japan for stallion duty in 2024, Darley announced on Thursday. Fees for the G1 King George-winning duo will be revealed later.
The first horse to win the Derby and the King George in the same year since his paternal grandsire Galileo (Ire), Adayar was retired in July.
The bay broke his maiden by nine lengths at Nottingham at second asking at two for Charlie Appleby, and was group-placed prior to winning the 2021 Derby at Epsom before adding the King George in his next start. In two starts at four, he was second in the G1 Champion S., and resumed this term with a victory in the G3 Gordon Richards S. in May. After a third-placed run in the G1 Prince Of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot, he concluded his career with a second in the G2 Princess Of Wales's S. at Newbury in July. Overall, he earned $2,553,575 and boasts a record of 13-5-4-1.
A full-brother to the stakes winner Military Order (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Adayar is out of G3 Prix de la Grotte winner Anna Salai, who also ran second in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas. His dam is a half-sister to stakes winners Iguazu Falls (Pivotal {GB}) and Advice (GB) (Seeking The Gold), who both placed at group level. He is also kin to G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner National Defense (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), among others.
Hukum, a full-brother to the brilliant miler Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) won nine stakes races for his owner/breeder Shadwell, including the 2023 King George and the G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom. His female family features Shadwell blue hen Height Of Fashion (Fr) (Bustino {GB}).
Harry Sweeney, president of Darley in Japan said, “We are really excited to be able to stand two brilliant stallions in Japan, Derby winner Adayar by Europe's leading stallion Frankel, and King George winner Hukum by Sea The Stars. We hope that these excellent bloodlines will not only succeed in Japan, but also spread to Europe and the rest of the world. We look forward to welcoming you to view these stallions.”
The post Derby Winner Adayar Joins Hukum At Darley Japan Next Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
Irish Classic Winner Westover To Yushun Stallion Station In Japan
Multiple Group 1 winner and Classic winner Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}–Mirabilis, by Lear Fan) has been sold and will stand at Yushun Stallion Station in Japan next year, his owner/breeder Juddmonte announced on Thursday. The Irish Derby hero will be syndicated and a fee will be announced later.
Trained by Ralph Beckett, Westover won on debut at Sandown in August of 2021 and was listed-placed later that year. At three, he won the G3 Bet365 Classic Trial and was a good third in the G1 Derby prior to running off with the Irish Derby by seven lengths. Kept in training at four, he was second to the current Longines World's Best Racehorse Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic this March and ran second in the G1 Coronation Cup in June. Back in the winner's circle in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint Cloud in July, he would finish his career with a narrow second in the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S. and fill the same position in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. An injury sustained in the latter race resulted in his retirement in October. His record stands at 13-4-6-1 and $4,064,813 in earnings.
“Given his tremendously consistent race record, along with his beautiful conformation and pedigree, he is sure to make a successful contribution to the Japanese breeding industry,” Juddmonte said in a statement.
A full-brother to G3 Darley Club S. winner Monarchs Glen (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Westover is out of GIII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. heroine Mirabilis, who also won at stakes level in France, was second in the G3 Prix Miesque and G3 Prix du Pin and took third in the G1 Prix de la Foret. Second dam Media Nox (GB) (Lycius) claimed a pair of grade/group stakes in California and France, and then threw dual Group 1 winner Nebraska Tornado to the cover of Storm Cat.
The post Irish Classic Winner Westover To Yushun Stallion Station In Japan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
