Multiple group winner The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}–Anna Law {Ire}, by Lawman {Fr}), a full-brother to crack sprinter Battaash (Ire), has been retired and will stand under the Coolmore banner at Castlehyde Stud in 2024, Coolmore announced on Wednesday. A fee for the G1 Middle Park S. second and G1 Prix Morny third will be announced later.
“He's fast, a very good-looking individual and his own-brother Battaash is probably the best five-furlong sprinter of recent times,” said Castlehyde's Paddy Fleming. “On a mark of 113 as a 2-year-old, the Antarctic was rated the equal of Havana Grey (GB)–who is out of a Dark Angel mare–and just a pound below his own sire Dark Angel.”
Bred by Paul McCartan of Ballyphilip Stud, the grey was a 750,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase by Coolmore's MV Magnier. Trained by Aidan O'Brien for a Coolmore partnership, the February foal won his first two starts and was second in the G2 Prix Robert Papin later in his juvenile season prior to a victory in the G3 Prix de Cabourg. Two Group 1 placings followed–with a third in the Prix Morny to stablemate Blackbeard (Ire) (No Nay Never) and a second to that foe in the Middle Park. As a 3-year-old he also won the G3 Lacken S. at Naas and was retired with a mark of 12-4-2-3 and $255,971 in earnings.
“We always said Battaash was the best-looking horse that we'd bred but I think this guy is better, no doubt about it,” said McCartan after The Antarctic joined the Coolmore fold at the sales.
The fifth foal out of Anna Law, herself a half-sister to G2 Champagne S. Etlaala (GB) (Selkirk), The Antarctic is also related to group sire Tasleet (GB) (Showcasing {GB}).
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