Multiple group winner Mutasaabeq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}–Ghanaati, by Giant's Causeway) has been retired and will take up stallion duties at The National Stud in Newmarket next year. The dual G2 Joel S. hero's fee will be £6,500.
“We are delighted to have secured Mutasaabeq to join our stallion roster for the 2024 season,” said The National Stud CEO Anna Kerr. “He was a very consistent horse on the track and showed a great attitude in his races. It is rare that a prospect with such an outstanding pedigree becomes available, especially one with the physical to match. He will represent great value for British Breeders at £6,500 in his first season, and there will be a limited number of breeding rights available.”
Through four seasons of racing for trainer Charlie Hills, the Shadwell homebred visited the winner's circle seven times. In addition to taking the Joel S. in 2022 and 2023, he was also placed at the group level three times last year and kicked off his 5-year-old season with a win in the bet365 Mile in May. Overall, his record stands at 17-7-2-1 and $356,753 in earnings.
Hills added, “He was a pleasure to train and remained tremendously sound throughout his career, winning his novice as a 2-year-old and racing at the highest level to win three Group 2s.”
His dam, the dual Group 1 winner Ghanaati, was a star for Shadwell's late Sheikh Hamdan, taking both the 1000 Guineas and Coronation S. She was also third in the G1 Sussex S. and ended her career with a second in the G1 Sun Chariot S. in October of 2009. Mutasaabeq is her sixth foal. Ghanaati already has Group 3 winner Wafy (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) to her credit. Mutasaabeq's third dam is the blue hen and top race mare Height Of Fashion (Fr) (Bustino {GB}).
Shadwell's racing manager Angus Gold said, “Mutasaabeq was a wonderfully consistent horse, winning a total of seven races over four seasons, including three Group 2 races; I feel sure that his temperament and soundness, allied to his outstanding looks and excellent pedigree, will give him every chance of succeeding at stud.”
Quality Over Quantity In Newmarket
Mutasaabeq joins four other stallions at The National Stud, including high class stayer Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who is priced at £10,000. A winner of 18 stakes including seven Group 1s, the popular son of Sea The Stars (Ire) covered 103 mares during his first season at stud and his fee is unchanged.
Established stallion Time Test (GB),a four-time group winner and placed thrice in the top tier, has been trimmed to £8,500. However, the son of Dubawi (Ire)'s best-bred crops will soon hit racecourses across Europe after his breakout first season with 2-year-olds in 2021. Already the sire of six stakes winners and three group winners among them, he covered 66 mares this year.
At the same price is Lope De Vega (Ire)'s Lope Y Fernandez (Ire), whose first foals arrived this term. The G3 Round Tower S. victor covered 127 mares in 2022 and that number increased to 140 in 2023. Placed five times at the highest level including a second in the Irish 2000 Guineas, he has 50 foals catalogued between Goffs and Tattersalls set to sell next month.
Rounding out the roster is G2 Coventry S. winner Rajasinghe (Ire). The Choisir (Aus)-sired 8-year-old, who has 12 winners from just 23 runners, will command £3,000, unchanged from 2023. He attracted 37 mares to his court this term.
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