Bolshoi Ballet (Ire), the dual Grade I-winning son of Galileo (Ire) and Alta Anna (Fr) (Anabaa), has been retired from racing to join Coolmore's National roster. He will stand at the McCarthy family's The Beeches Stud in Co Waterford.
Having been named a 'TDN Rising Star' when breaking his maiden at Leopardstown at two, Bolshoi Ballet, bred by Lynch Bages and Rhinestone Bloodstock, then emulated his sire, as well as Yeats (Ire) and High Chaparral (Ire), when winning both the G3 Ballysax S. and G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial the next season. Following a seventh-place finish in the Derby at Epsom, he bounced back to win the GI Belmont Derby, earning the highest Beyer Speed Figure of any turf horse in North America last year. He closed out his career with another Grade I success at Saratoga, recording an easy win in the Sword Dancer S. this August.
“Bolshoi Ballet is an exceptional looker and walker, extremely genuine and clean-winded,” said his trainer Aidan O'Brien. “He had the class to win a Grade I over a mile and a quarter and also stayed a mile and a half well.”
Robert McCarthy of The Beeches Stud added, “I was very taken with Bolshoi Ballet when we went to see him at Ballydoyle earlier in the year. He's a super-looking horse with real presence about him, a great colour, plenty of size and a very good walk. I have no doubt that breeders will be impressed when they come to see him.”
Bolshoi Ballet's fee will be announced in the coming days.
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