Juddmonte's St Leger winner Logician (GB) (Frankel {GB}–Scuffle {GB}, by Daylami {Ire}) has been retired from racing and will take up stallion duties at Shade Oak Stud in Shropshire from 2022.
The 5-year-old has been bought by a partnership with includes Shade Oak's owner Peter Hockenhull, Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning breeder Bryan Mayoh and Grand National-winning trainer Dr Richard Newland. Juddmonte will also retain some breeding rights in the son of the Daylami (Ire) mare Scuffle (GB), a listed-placed treble winner who is a half-sister to the stallions Bated Breath (GB) and Cityscape (GB).
“The purchase of Logician is the culmination of a four-year search to bring another top-class stallion prospect to Shade Oak, one with all the qualities needed in a champion National Hunt sire. Logician ticks every box,” said Peter Hockenhull, who currently stands Dartmouth (GB), Telescope (Ire), Scorpion (Ire) and Recharge (Ire).
He added, “He is by Frankel, the best racehorse I have ever seen and now succeeding his own sire, Galileo, as the world's best stallion, from a black-type mare that has bred six winners from six runners, including four black-type horses, and is herself a half-sister to Cityscape and Bated Breath. He stands 16.2hh with great bone, plenty of strength and substance, a lovely walk and a fantastic temperament.”
Unraced at two, Logician was faultless in a five-start 3-year-old campaign, which saw him break his maiden at Newbury in May over 10 furlongs and culminated in back-to-back wins in the G2 Great Voltigeur S. and G1 St Leger, in which he beat future classy stayers Sir Ron Priestley (GB) and Nayef Road (Ire), as well as subsequent G1 Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet (Ire). He returned to the track almost exactly a year later, having survived a life-threatening attack of peritonitis and pleurisy at the end of his 3-year-old season.
Despite Shade Oak Stud and the horse's new connections being predominantly active in the National Hunt sphere, Hockenhull said that he hopes to encourage Flat breeders to send mares to Logician.
He continued, “I am encouraged that Juddmonte were keen to retain breeding rights in the horse for use on their own mares, so I look forward to some high-class runners by him not only over jumps but also on the Flat. I am extremely grateful to the Abdullah family for supporting British breeding by selling Logician to a stud in this country, and to Grant Pritchard-Gordon of Badgers Bloodstock, whose long-term association with Juddmonte, Prince Khalid's family and this pedigree helped us greatly in this transaction.”
Hockenhull added, “The Great British Bonus and NH Elite Mares Schemes, championed by the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association and supported by the Levy Board, are transforming the prospects for British breeders, making it possible for studs here to purchase stallions of the quality of Logician.”
As a 3-year-old, Logician, who became Frankel's first Classic-winning son, earned a Timeform rating of 126p. He won on his comeback at four in a Doncaster conditions race, and has been placed in his only starts this season, in the G3 Al Rayyan S. and listed Fred Archer S.
His former trainer John Gosden said, “Logician was still improving when he won the St Leger, quickening in the style of his sire. We planned a major Group 1 campaign over 10 and 12 furlongs as a 4-year-old–he was that good——but unfortunately illness got in the way. As well as fantastic physique and tremendous stride, Logician has a great mind. Nothing fazes him and he puts everything into his racing. He has all the ingredients to be an outstanding dual-purpose sire.”
Juddmonte's racing manager Barry Mahon added, “From the start, Logician was a special horse, a standout yearling among the Juddmonte crop that year. His size, strength and beautiful action, combined with good conformation, had everyone excited from an early stage and he didn't disappoint. His unbeaten 3-year-old season ended with a dominant victory in the St Leger.
“We have no doubt he was one of the very best middle-distance horses around. Being by Frankel, and given his exceptional physique and performance, Logician is a huge asset to British breeding. Shade Oak have guided many top-class stallions through their careers and I'm sure they have another top-class prospect on their hands.”
A fee for Logician will be announced at a later date.
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