The dual Group 1 winner Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) is the first stallion to retire to Steve Parkin's Dullingham Park near Newmarket.
The top-rated sprinter in Europe this year, Shaquille was trained by Julie Camacho to win the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot before defeating his elders in the July Cup at Newmarket.
The 3-year-old was co-bred by his owner Martin Hughes, who paid tribute to the retiring star, saying, “It was an honour to be associated with such a brilliant horse. To breed him and to race him in my colours, and then to see him develop into a superstar on the track was thrilling. Both of his Group 1 wins were spectacular. I now look forward to partnering with Dullingham Park in his future career as a stallion.”
Shaquille is out of the Galileo (Ire) mare Magic (Ire), herself a daughter of Cheveley Park Stud's multiple group-winning sprinter Danehurst (GB) (Danehill). He won seven of his nine career starts, including scoring twice at York as a juvenile and landing the Listed Carnarvon S. at Newbury before his twin Group 1 successes.
Steve Parkin, who outlined his plans for Dullingham Park Stud in a TDN interview last month, said, “We are delighted to have been able to secure a horse of Shaquille's ability and potential to stand at our new stallion farm. Julie, Steve and their team have done a terrific job with his racing career and I know that our team will be working hard to ensure that Shaquille is equally successful in his new career as a stallion.”
Ollie Fowlston, who was appointed earlier this year to manage Dullingham Park Stud, added, “It is a tribute to the commitment Steve Parkin has shown to the British breeding industry in establishing a new stallion operation on an historic stud that we are able to introduce a stallion of Shaquille's calibre. In addition to his obvious speed and ability, he is a tremendously good-looking horse with a wonderful temperament. We can't wait to show him to breeders from around the world during the Tattersalls December Sales.”
Shaquille's trainer Julie Camacho and her husband and assistant trainer Steve Brown said, “Shaquille has taken us to the very highest level and given us some of the most exciting days of our racing lives. We thank Martin for entrusting him to us, and we wish the team at Dullingham Park Stud the best of luck for his stallion career. We look forward to training some of his progeny in years to come.”
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