Caravaggio (Scat Daddy–Mekko Hotke, by Holy Bull), the leading European first-crop sire of 2021, has been acquired by the Japanese Bloodstock Breeders Association (JBBA) and is set to continue his stud career at Shizunai Stallion Station, according to multiple published reports.
Trained by Aidan O'Brien for Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, Caravaggio was perfect in four runs as a juvenile, including a defeat of Mehmas (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot and capped by a four-length success in the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. His overall winning streak stretched to six when he defeated Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) by three-parts of a length in the 2017 G1 Commonwealth Cup during the Royal meeting and he added that year's G2 Flying Five S. ahead of a close third in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S.
Caravaggio covered his first three books of mares at Coolmore Ireland before heading to Ashford Stud in Kentucky. From his first crop of runners, he is already the sire of eight black-type winners, chief among them Irish and English highweight Tenebrism, a daughter of Immortal Verse (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) who won last year's G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park S. and added the G1 Prix Jean Prat this term. His other pattern winners include G2 Debutante S. winner Agartha (Ire), German Classic winner Maljoom (Ire) and G3 Snow Fairy S. winner Viareggio. Caravaggio's first-crop daughter Her World (Ire) earned the 'TDN Rising Star' distinction with a debut six-length victory in last year's Tyro S. for Wesley Ward. Overall, he has been represented by 78 individual winners, including seven in Australia.
At Shizunai, Caravaggio will join a lineup that already includes Animal Kingdom, Bago (Fr), Creator, Declaration of War, Eskendereya, Makfi (GB), Mischievous Alex and Noble Mission (GB).
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