Derby runner-up Dee Ex Bee (GB) (Farhh {GB}–Dubai Sunrise, by Seeking the Gold) will stand his first season as a National Hunt stallion alongside Jet Away (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) at Arctic Tack Stud in Ireland. The son of Farrh's debut fee will be €3,500 with a concession for filly foals.
Bred by Godolphin, the bay raced for Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum and raced for all bar his final two starts for trainer Mark Johnston. Dual listed-placed as a juvenile, Dee Ex Bee ran second in the 2018 G3 Chester Vase that May, second in the G1 Derby that June and later that summer added another Classic placing with a third in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris. Another third, this time in Germany's G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern, ended his sophomore year. Never off the board in six starts at group level in 2019, Dee Ex Bee added wins in the G3 Henry II S. and G3 Sagaro S. to his ledger alongside a trio of Group 1 placings-the Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup, and Prix du Cadran. He retires with a record of 21-4-7-5 and earnings of $1,181,563.
Arctic Tack Stud's Eoin Banville said, “We are thrilled to be able to bring Dee Ex Bee to Arctic Tack Stud to offer a valuable outcross for Irish breeders.
“Dee Ex Bee's talent was matched by his versatility, with his performances on ground described as good to firm all the way through to heavy and over a variety of different trips. His sire has already demonstrated his value as a stallion and I have no doubt Dee Ex Bee will prove as popular and important as Jet Away in the coming years with us.”
Although his dam was unraced, she is a full-sister to the outstanding racehorse Dubai Millennium (GB) (Seeking the Gold), who would sire only one crop of foals, but in that group was the multiple Group 1 winner and sire Dubawi (Ire). Second dam Colorado Dancer (Ire) (Shareef Dancer) won a brace of French group races and placed twice at Group 1 level, while her dam is the bluehen Fall Aspen (Pretense).
“Dee Ex Bee was the type of horse you dream of as a stayer,” said former trainer Mark Johnston. “He had Group 1 quality, was tremendously versatile and ticked all the boxes physically.
“He competed against some of the very best horses around during his time in training and played his part in some tremendous races, including a Derby, Gold Cup at Ascot and a Goodwood Cup. I am delighted that he will have this opportunity at Arctic Tack Stud and have no doubt Irish breeders will benefit greatly from his presence.”
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