Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}–Beach Frolic {GB}, by Nayef), the top-rated miler of 2020 and winner of five Group 1 races for Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, has been retired from racing and will stand at Darley's Dalham Hall Stud for 2022. His stud fee will be announced at a later date.
Bred by Highclere Stud and the Duke of Roxburghe's Floors Farming, Palace Pier was bought as a yearling by his trainer John Gosden for 600,000gns and won both his starts in maiden and novice company at two. On just the fourth start of his life, in a season disrupted by the Covid pandemic, he lined up for his first Group 1, beating the previous season's champion 2-year-old Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal) in the St James's Palace S. at Royal Ascot.
His next start saw Palace Pier win the first of two consecutive runnings of the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois before running third to The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) on rain-softened ground back at Ascot for QIPCO Champions Day 2020.
A similar pattern was followed this season by John and Thady Gosden. The 4-year-old started his campaign with victory in the G2 bet365 Mile, before beating Lady Bowthorpe (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the G1 Lockinge S. He made a triumphant return to the Royal Meeting in the G1 Queen Anne S. and was then involved in one of the most thrilling finishes of the season for his second Jacques Le Marois victory, in which he held off 2000 Guineas winner Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) by a neck. Palace Pier's final start came when being beaten the same distance by the up-and-coming Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. on Saturday.
Palace Pier's dam Beach Frolic is a granddaughter of Miss d'Ouilly (Fr) (Bikala {Ire}), who was bought by John Warren from the late owner/breeder Jean-Luc Lagardere in 2000. A half-sister to the Group 2 winners Bonfire (GB) (Manduro {Ger}) and Joviality (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), Beach Frolic was sold to Coolmore last December for 2.2 million gns.
Commenting on Palace Pier's retirement to Darley's Newmarket division, Sam Bullard, Director of Stallions, said, “Palace Pier is a wonderful horse to look at–and he's even more impressive in full flight. He's dominated the hugely competitive mile division for two seasons. He's a very rare talent and we are privileged to be standing him.”
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