It has been confirmed that Sands Of Mali (Fr) will remain at Ballyhane Stud, where he has stood since his retirement in 2021. This is contrary to a statement released on Tuesday by Steve Parkin's Dullingham Park.
The Group 1-winning sprinter has his first runners this season. His former stud-mates at Ballyhane, Asymmetric (Ire) and Space Traveller (GB), have moved to Micheal Orlandi's Starfield Stud in Co Westmeath.
A statement released by Ballyhane Stud on Friday morning cited “a breakdown in the business relationship between Clipper principal Steve Parkin and Ballyhane Stud owner Joe Foley.”
It read, “It was agreed that stallions wholly owned by the Clipper operation would not stand at the Carlow farm in the future and, as a consequence, Asymmetric and Space Traveller moved to Starfield stud near Mullingar on Wednesday.”
The G2 Richmond S. winner Asymmetric recently commenced covering his first book of mares, while Space Traveller (GB), who won the Clipper-sponsored G2 Boomerang S. at Leopardstown, is in his second season at stud.
“We both thought this was the best way forward and I wish the team at Starfield all the best with the two horses,” said Joe Foley.
“As Sands of Mali is a partnership horse, he will remain at Ballyhane where his book has been increasing significantly due to highly encouraging reports of his first crop of two-year-olds.”
He added, “It has been a great adventure helping Steve and his family build his racing and breeding operation into what it has become today and I'm proud of the top horses that I've sourced for them over the years. I wish them all the best into the future, especially on the racetrack this year where the Clipper and Bronte teams have an exciting string of horses preparing for the season ahead.”
Parkin's homebred Group 1 winner Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) is currently second-favourite in the betting for the Qipco 1,000 Guineas, while her stable-mate at Karl Burke's Spigot Lodge, Night Raider (Ire) (Dark Angel {GB}), shortened significantly in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas market following his 'TDN Rising Star'-worthy wide-margin win at Southwell on Wednesday. Bred by Linden Bloodstock, he was bought for Parkin by Foley as a foal.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
