Every year sees a flurry of Group one winners retired to stud. Next year however seems an exciting year as an interesting batch of champions try to prove themselves as super sires. The following are some of the Group one winners set to retire to stud in Europe for 2014.
Al Kazeem (GB)
- 08 B.C by Dubawi x Kazeem (Darshaan)
- To Stud: The Royal Studs, UK
- Fee £18,000
A triple Group 1 winner Al Kazeem proved himself one of Europe's best older horses by winning three of Europe's prestigious Group 1 races at 10F. He is an exciting recruit to the British stallion ranks. He is one of only a handful of sons of his sire at stud. His paternal half brother Makfi has enjoyed tremendous support from breeders and buyers. Al Kazeem is sure to be well liked by breeders, as he is quite the looker. He is out of minor winner Kazeem, an own sister to Grade 2 winner Treasurer. The 2nd dam Kanz was placed in the Yorkshire Oaks. Kanz is a half sister to Diomedia and Media Stargate both Grade stakes winners. This is from the immediate family of champion Italian colt Glint Of Gold and Catella a Group 1 winner in Germany. This is also from the family of Armiger winner of the RP Trophy and also placed 2nd in both the St Leger and Prix Lupin. Mares by Sadler's Wells & Danehill and their sire sons look obvious choices. Sire Sons by Danzig and Mr Prospector are also appealing.
Camelot (GB)
- 09 B.C by Montjeu x Tarfah (Kingmambo)
- To Stud: Coolmore, Ireland
- Fee: E25,000
Dawn Approach (IRE)
- 10 CH.C by New Approach x Hymn Of The Dawn (Phone Trick)
- To Stud: Kildangan Stud, Ireland
- Fee: E35,000
Dawn Approach was beautifully handled by his owner/breeder & trainer Jim Bolger. He was an unbeaten dual Group 1 winning two-year-old. He emulated his sire New Approach by becoming European champion two-year-old of his year. Dawn Approach added two more Group 1's to his record as a three-year-old at a mile. His last win proved to be the St James Palace stakes at Ascot in June. Dawn Approach is the first colt to represent his sire at stud. Dawn Approach is out Hymn Of The Dawn also trained by Bolger. She was unsuccessful in 6 starts. Dawn Approach's female family doesn't represent high class horses. He is the only Group 1 winner to come from the the family since Miss Oceana a sister to his 3rd dam. Dawn Approach is inbred 5x5 to Neartic the sire of the great Northern Dancer. Northern Dancer line looks an obvious mating choice for him. One sire line that looks intriguing is breeding from Green Desert who has had success with his sires family.
Declaration Of War (USA)
Farhh (GB)
Havana Gold (IRE)
Most Improved (IRE)
Reckless Abandon (USA)
Declaration Of War (USA)
- 09 B.C by War Front x Tempo West (Rahy)
- To Stud: Coolmore, Ireland
- Fee: E40,000
A dual Group 1 winner Declaration Of War proved himself a top class older miler and middle distance horse. Declaration Of War is the first stallion of his sire War Front to stand in Europe. With his sire creating waves in America, it is certain Declaration Of War will be well supported. He is out of minor winnner Tempo West. Declaration Of War is a half brother to Listed winner Vertiformer while his full brother War Pact was stakes placed in France. Tempo West is a half sister to dual Grade 1 winner Union Rags, whose wins included the Belmont stakes. Mares from such sires lines as Sadler's Wells, Storm Cat & Danehill look intriguing
Farhh (GB)
- 08 B.C by Pivotal x Gonbarda (Lando)
- To Stud: Dalham Hall Stud, UK
- Fee: £17,500
Farhh retires to stud as a dual Group 1 winner. Both his Group 1 wins coming as a five-year-old. The older this horse got the better he became. Sire sons of Pivotal have done fairly well at stud. Kyllachy, Captain Rio and Falco to name a few. Farhh is out of dual German Group 1 winner Gonbarda & is from the family of top class older horse Fame And Glory. His dam is a half sister to SWnrs Gonfilla & Gonlargo. Gonbarda's full brother Gorlor was a Listed winner & Group 3 placed. The strong German line means that mares by champion German sires such as Monsun, Lomitas have to be highly considered as potential mates for Farhh.
Havana Gold (IRE)
- B.C by Teofilo x Jessica's Dream (Desert Style)
- To Stud: Tweenhills Farm, UK
- Fee: £8,500
Havana Gold was a consistent horse. His highest success coming in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat. He is the first horse to represent his sire Teofilo at stud. He is one of five Group 1 winners for his sire. Havana Gold is from a decent family. His dam Jessica's Dream was a Group 3 winner and multiple Group placed. She is a half sister to Major's Cast who was 2nd in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes and 3rd in the Group 1 Prix Du Moulin. This is from the family of Grade 1 Hollywood Derby winner Ultimate Eagle. Being a grandson of Galileo, he is open to other sire lines from Sadler's Wells, Danehill, Rainbow Quest, Indian Ridge etc look interesting choices.
Intello (GER)
Lethal Force (IRE)
- 10 B.C by Galileo x Impressionist (Danehill)
- To Stud: Cheveley Park Stud ,UK (2014-15), Haras Du Quesney, France (2016-17)
- Fee: £25,000
Intello is a very admirable racehorse. In all his nine starts he won six of them and was placed 3rd in all his other races including in the Arc De Triopmhe and Prix Jacques Les Marois. Intello is bred on the sensational Galileo/Danehill line. He comes with a nice stallions pedigree. His dam Impressionist was a Group winner in France. His 2nd dam Occupandiste was champion older mare in France. Intello comes from the female family of Elnadim. His 5th dam was Fall Aspen a high class mare,she became a phenomenal broodmare. This family line is also what produced Dubai Millennium. Intello's breeding is so inundated in Europe that a lot of his progeny will be inbred. I can see a lot of inbreeding to Sadlers Wells and Danehill. Leading young sire Teofilo bred on the same cross produced Group 1 winner Parish Hall from a mare by Montjeu. Although I'm personally not a fan of too near inbreeding it will no doubt be interesting to see what he can produce.
Lethal Force (IRE)
- 09 GR.C by Dark Angel x Land Army (Desert Style)
- To Stud: Cheveley Park Stud, UK
- Fee: £12,500
Lethal Force proved himself Europe's best sprinter winning twice at the highest level. His exploits have really put his sire Dark Angel on the map. Lethal Force is an interesting stallion prospect. His dam Land Army is a half sister to SWnr Flanders, better known as the grand dam of dual Group 1 winner Flotilla. Lethal Force's pedigree is lacking star quality and there is no top class Group 1 horses in his dam line for some generations. However he is a very interesting future prospect for stud. Northern Dancer line mares look to be the perfect match for him.
Most Improved (IRE)
- 09 B.C by Lawman x Tonnara (Linamix)
- To Stud: Castlehyde Stud (Coolmore), Ireland
- Fee: E6,000
Most Improved's only Group 1 success came in the St James Palace Stakes. He was also placed in the Dewhurst stakes a two-year-old. He was bought by the Coolmore partners at the end of his three-year-old campaign. Most Improved disappointed slightly as a four-year-old coming last in a Group 3 contest at Tipperary on his penultimate start. He is the second foal out of Tonnara a daughter of champion broodmare sire Linamix. Most Improved's pedigree received another mighty boost when his half brother Ectot, by Hurricane Run won the Criterium International recently. Tonnara is now the dam of two individual Group 1 winners. Tonnara's 2013 foal is a filly by Invincible Spirit. Interestingly this sire is the grand sire of her Group 1 winning half brother Most Improved. He is a good outcross for Sadler's Wells & Rainbow Quest mares who have worked very well with his own sire Lawman and grand sire Invincible Spirit.
Reckless Abandon (USA)
- 10 B.C by Exchange Rate x Sant Elena (Efisio)
- To Stud: Kildangan Stud, Ireland
- Fee: E10,000
Reckless Abandon was an unbeaten champion two-year-old. He was a dual Group 1 winner. Reckless Abandon could not frank his form he had shown as a two-year-old and disappointed me slightly as a three-year-old. His best performance at three was a 3rd place behind Kingsgate Native in the Group 2 Temple stakes. His dam Sant Elena is a half sister to dual Grade 1 winner Ticker Tape. His 3rd dam Wiener Wald bred RP Trophy winner Crowded House. Wiener Wald's other progeny included Stakes performers On Reflection, Forest Crown & Riotous Applause. Having only shown his best form as a two-year-old I can't see Reckless Abandon making huge head way as a sire. However I would count him as a candidate for Freshman sire honors. Green Desert line notable for producing sprinters sounds an interesting choice.
Saint Nicholas Abbey (IRE)
- 07 B.C by Montjeu x Leaping Water (Sure Blade)
- To Stud: Coolmore, Ireland
All going well for Saint Nicholas Abbey he will hopefully be joining his paternal half brother Camelot at Coolmore. Saint Nicholas Abbey was a top class race horse and is the highest earning European horse in history. He is also the only horse to win the Coronation Cup a remarkable three times. Saint Nicholas Abbey has a good pedigree to back him up. He is a half brother to Graded winner Grammarian. His 2nd dam is Flamenco Wave is the dam of three individual Group 1 winners including Ballingarry, Starborough and Aristotle. Although none of them could make any impact at stud I have belief that Saint Nicholas Abbey could. Mares by Danehill, Darshaan etc sound appealing
Great article. Looking forward to seeing how Camelot and St. Nick get on. Shame Dawn Approach is not staying in training as a 4yo
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