Castlehyde Stud

Multiple group winner The Antarctic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Anna Law {Ire}, by Lawman {Fr}), a full-brother to crack sprinter Battaash (Ire), has been retired and will stand under the Coolmore banner at Castlehyde Stud in 2024, Coolmore announced on Wednesday. A fee for the G1 Middle Park S. second and G1 Prix Morny third will be announced later. "He's fast, a very good-looking individual and his own-brother Battaash is probably the best five-furlong sprinter of recent times," said Castlehyde's Paddy Fleming. "On a mark of 113 as a 2-year-old, the...

Former world champion 3-year-old Rock of Gibraltar (Ire) (Danehill--Offshore Boom {GB}, by Be My Guest) has died from heart failure at Castlehyde Stud in Ireland at the age of 23. The son of Danehill was bred by the late Joe Crowley with his daughter Annemarie and son-in-law Aidan O'Brien. He was sent into training with the latter at Ballydoyle as a juvenile in 2001, later racing for the partnership of Sir Alex Ferguson and Susan Magnier. Rock Of Gibraltar's sensational racing career, which saw him land seven consecutive Group 1...

Coolmore Stud's G2 Coventry S. hero Arizona (Ire) (No Nay Never) celebrated the arrival of his first reported foals, with one, a colt out of the winner Sweet Martoni (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), born on Tuesday night at Thistletown Stud in County Wexford. Sweet Martoni is a daughter of the stakes winner Sweetness Herself (GB) (Unfuwain) and is a half-sister to black-type winner Jagger (GB) (Linamix {Fr}). Jimmy Furlong, who owns the foal with Ken Sneath, said the new arrival was, "a fine big, bay colt with plenty of quality, just...

Classic winner Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}--Wadyhatta {GB}, by Cape Cross {Ire}) will stand under the Coolmore National Hunt banner at Castlehyde Stud in 2022. A fee for the G1 Irish Derby hero will be announced later. "Santiago is a Derby winner with a pedigree full of Derby winners and leading sires," said Coolmore's Cathal Murphy. "He's a big, quality individual with a fantastic action, and I'm sure National Hunt breeders will be very impressed when they see him." Purchased for €275,000 in utero at the Arqana July Sale in 2016,...

NEWMARKET, UK--With an outstanding day of action anticipated at Newmarket on Saturday, an Exceed And Excel (Aus) half-sister to one of the potential stars of the day, Zain Claudette (Ire) (No Nay Never), added further lustre to the family when topping the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale at £200,000. Zain Claudette has been a break-out performer for trainer Ismael Mohammed this season, progressing from winning a Newmarket maiden to the G3 Princess Margaret S. and then G2 Lowther S. Come the weekend, she may well have taken the next step...

NEWMARKET, UK--Ah, the yearling sales. It's a long old season and sometimes the more elderly members of the press desk can get a little jaded by the halfway point, not to mention discombobulated. After all, we're at a Tattersalls Ireland sale in Newmarket, where instead of selling in guineas or euros, the horses are changing hands in sterling. But every now and then a feelgood story comes along to soften even the stoniest of hearts. Let's face it, the day started pretty well: the sun shone and the free ice-cream...

Four-time Group 1 winner and prolific sire Mastercraftsman (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}-Starlight Dreams, by Black Tie Affair {Ire}) has died age 15 at Coolmore's Castlehyde Stud in Ireland following a suspected heart attack on Friday morning. "Mastercraftsman was a lovely horse to have anything to do with and will be missed by everyone here," said Castlehyde manager Tom Gaffney. "He has sired some wonderful animals and hopefully there will be a few more stars by him to come." Mastercraftsman was bred by Lynch Bages and was the fifth foal out...

Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Mrs. John Magnier's Arizona (Ire) (No Nay Never--Lady Ederle, by English Channel), winner of the G2 Coventry S. in only his third career start, has been retired from racing and will stand under the Coolmore banner at Castlehyde Stud for the 2021 season. A fee for Arizona will be announced at a later date. "Arizona is a very good-looking and good-moving son of No Nay Never who really fills the eye," said Castlehyde Manager Paddy Fleming. "He's got a very current, fast pedigree too, so...