National Stud Brochure 2025

Page 1


BRADSELL

LOPE Y FERNANDEZ • RAJASINGHE • STRADIVARIUS

STRADIVARIUS • BRADSELL • LOPE Y FERNANDEZ

LOPE Y FERNANDEZ • RAJASINGHE • STRADIVARIUS

STRADIVARIUS • BRADSELL • LOPE Y FERNANDEZ

LOPE Y FERNANDEZ • RAJASINGHE • STRADIVARIUS

RAJASINGHE • STRADIVARIUS • BRADSELL • LOPE Y FERNAN-

LOPE Y FERNANDEZ • RAJASINGHE • STRADIVARI-

After a long and star-studded career on the racetrack and following huge popularity in his first season at stud, we were delighted to welcome the eagerly awaited first foals by the iconic Stradivarius. As predicted, they have every bit of their sire’s athleticism and quality, with plenty of them having his flashy white markings to boot! Breeders have been so enamoured with their foals that many have sent mares to him again this year, and he duly covered a second high quality book of over 100 mares.

RAJASINGHE • STRADIVARIUS • BRADSELL • LOPE Y FERNAN-

LOPE Y FERNANDEZ • RAJASINGHE • STRADIVARIUS

The first crop by our European Champion Three-Year-Old Sprinter Lope Y Fernandez have graced the yearling sales this Autumn, with exceptional results following on from the success of his first foal sales in late 2023. He has had several six-figure lots and many of his stock have been purchased by renowned good judges, but most importantly they are heading to some outstanding trainers to give them (and subsequently their sire) the best possible opportunity for a successful first season on the track.

RAJASINGHE • STRADIVARIUS • BRADSELL • LOPE Y FERNAN-

Rajasinghe continues to have an impressive strike rate, currently sitting at 57% winners to runners and I believe providing breeders with unparalleled value. He has demonstrated his ability as a sire time and time again to produce winners, and standing at only £3,000 breeders would be hard pushed to find another stallion to offer as much for their money.

LOPE Y FERNANDEZ • RAJASINGHE • STRADIVARI-

RAJASINGHE • STRADIVARIUS • BRADSELL • LOPE Y FERNAN-

LOPE Y FERNANDEZ • RAJASINGHE • STRADIVARIUS

RAJASINGHE • STRADIVARIUS • BRADSELL • LOPE Y FERNAN-

LOPE Y FERNANDEZ • RAJASINGHE • STRADIVARI-

Ending the year on a high, we are honoured to have announced that top-class sprinter Bradsell will be joining us to commence his stallion career. A three-time Group 1 winner and the highest rated sprinter to retire to stud in 2025, we are delighted that in partnership with Victorious Racing we are able to provide British breeders access to the standout sprinter of recent years. We are obviously delighted to have a horse of Bradsell’s calibre, particularly as he has demonstrated throughout his career not only devastating speed but also incredible toughness and will to win. It goes without saying we always strive to offer breeders the highest quality stallions for the best value, but we also look for horses who we firmly believe have qualities that are desirable for the breed going forward, and we believe Bradsell is a perfect example of this.

RAJASINGHE • STRADIVARIUS • BRADSELL • LOPE Y FERNAN-

LOPE Y FERNANDEZ • RAJASINGHE • STRADIVARIUS

• STRADIVARIUS • BRADSELL • LOPE Y FERNAN-

The National Stud’s Bloodstock Education Programme continues to evolve to match industry needs, with the addition of a thoroughbred breeding apprenticeship, part time courses and an array of CPD opportunities. The first running of the Level 3 Stud Management and Sales Consignment course saw a 100% achievement rate and the learner’s success was celebrated at the Jockey Club Rooms in July at the annual graduation ceremony. A full cohort of students was welcomed in September and we are excited about their futures.

LOPE Y FERNANDEZ • RAJASINGHE • STRADIVARI-

LOPE Y FERNANDEZ

All that remains is to thank our loyal clients for their ongoing support for which we are so grateful, and of course our talented and dedicated team of staff who keep the stud running and without whom we would not be here. We look forward to continuing our relationships with clients old and new with our exciting roster of young stallions, and I personally would like to wish you all a happy, healthy and successful 2025.

LOPE Y FERNANDEZ

LOPE Y FERNANDEZ

First 3yo colt to win the Gr.1 King’s Stand Stakes in 15 years

SPRINT

BRADSELL

“He was imperious. He never looked like being beaten. He kicked clear and he’s done it very well... He’s just got so much speed and so much class. He’s tough and he’s just a pleasure to have anything to do with.”

WATSON (TRAINER) AFTER THE FLYING FIVE STAKES Gr.1

The fastest winner of the Group 1 Flying Five Stakes since it moved to the Curragh in 2002

THE HIGHEST RATED SPRINTER RETIRING TO STUD IN 2025

Winner of the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes in a faster time than Battaash’s 2020 victory and the first colt to win since 2007

Defeated 12 individual Group 1 winners

BRADSELL

GR1 WINNER over 5f

AS A 4YO

1st Nunthorpe Stakes, Gr.1, 5f, York

1st Flying Five Stakes, Gr.1, 5f, Curragh

1st Prix Hipodromo de la Gavea, L., 5f, Deauville

2nd Prix de l’Abbaye, Gr.1, 5f, Longchamp

AS A 3YO

1st King’s Stand Stakes, Gr.1, 5f, Royal Ascot

3rd Nunthorpe Stakes, Gr.1, 5f, York

3rd Sandy Lane Stakes, Gr.2, 6f, Haydock

3rd Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes, Gr.3, 6f, Ascot

AS A 2YO

1st Coventry Stakes, Gr.2, 6f, Royal Ascot

1st Novice Stakes, 6f, York

Tasleet

Russian Punch

Showcasing

Bird Key

Archipenko

Punch Drunk

Oasis Dream

Arabesque

Cadeaux Genereux

Portleet

Kingmambo

Bound

Beat Hollow

Bebe De Cham

Triple Group 1 winning sprint sensation

Bradsell has all the attributes to become a useful accomplice for commercial breeders.

His sire Tasleet was typical of his own father Showcasing’s stock, in being quick out of the blocks at two before blossoming into a top-class sprinter. Tasleet is also the source of Group 3 winner and Group 1 runner-up American Sonja, sales race scorer King Cuan and numerous other pacey and precocious performers.

Bradsell’s dam Russian Punch, by the beautifully bred Archipenko, scored by a wide margin on debut and also won the Listed Radley Stakes at two. She was noted for having a lightning-quick turn of foot and a willing attitude to racing.

It is unsurprising that Russian Punch turned out to be such a wonderfully game filly, as her first four dams were all winners and all bar one – her own dam Punch Drunk, who died young – produced multiple winners. Further back, she is related to the Group 1 horses Homme De Loi, Mister Majestic and Run To Jenny.

Bradsell, a neat, strong and good-actioned horse, certainly inherited the family’s will to win. A month to the day after being bought from the breeze-ups for £47,000, he set tongues wagging by winning a York novice stakes by nine lengths on debut for Archie Watson. The effort earned him a Racing Post Rating of 100, an astronomical figure for a two-year-old’s first outing in spring.

Bradsell was sold to Victorious Racing in a private transaction and he immediately gilded the deal by winning a high-class renewal of the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot by one and a half lengths, followed home by Persian Force, Royal Scotsman and Blackbeard, all of whom endorsed the form by also winning Group races at two.

He ran third over six furlongs on his first two starts at three before relishing a drop back to five furlongs in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, where he scored by a length from the brilliant sprinting mare Highfield Princess. Later in the season he finished a gallant third from a bad draw in the Nunthorpe Stakes.

Bradsell looked to have the sprinting division at his feet at four, but fractured a fetlock when in training for Dubai early in the season. The tenacious customer came back to prove he is the best sprinter of his generation with victories in the Nunthorpe Stakes and Flying Five Stakes before finishing a fine 2nd on softer than ideal ground in the Prix de l’Abbaye.

All things considered, few horses have encapsulated the commercially desirable qualities of precocity, speed, will to win and toughness as much as him in recent years.

LOPE Y FERNANDEZ

LOPE Y FERNANDEZ
Lope De Vega Black Dahlia Shamardal Lady Vettori Dansili

European Champion 3yo Sprinter

Lope Y Fernandez was judged to be the European champion three-yearold sprinter thanks to finishing a close second to Pinatubo in the Prix Jean Prat and third behind Space Blues in the Prix Maurice de Gheest. But he also displayed tremendous versatility that year, running third in both the Irish 2,000 Guineas and Breeders’ Cup Mile.

He was a precocious horse who won the Round Tower Stakes and achieved podium finishes in the Chesham Stakes and Vintage Stakes at two. He trained on at four to win the Heritage Stakes by 5½ lengths and ran second to Palace Pier in the Queen Anne Stakes.

Lope Y Fernandez is by the internationally renowned sire Lope De Vega, whose son Phoenix Of Spain made a promising start with his first runners, siring the Group 2 Vintage Stakes winner Haatem from his first crop. His Listed-placed dam Black Dahlia – by the highly influential Dansili –was a classy and tough individual who also produced Vintage Stakes winner Dark Vision at stud, along with three other Black Type performers from her seven runners to date.

His first crop were exceptionally well received at the European foal sales in 2023, with the same group continuing to light up the ring as yearlings in 2024. With the sales season still in full flow he has already had several six-figure results including a filly from the family of Group 1 winner Mubtaahij selling for €175,000 to Jason Kelly Bloodstock, a half-brother to Group 2 Rockfel Stakes winner Spain Burg hammered down to Alex Elliott for 140,000gns, and a half-sister to Group 2 placed Stratum making 125,000gns to the bid of Richard Ryan. With these first representatives heading to trainers including Richard Fahey, Eve Johnson-Houghton, Charlie Hills, Richard Hannon, Archie Watson, Charlie Fellowes etc., Lope Y Fernandez has every possible chance of success as a first season sire.

His popularity with breeders has remained high too, with over 400 mares covered in his first three seasons. His 115 strong book in 2024 included Group 1 Irish St Leger winner Voleuse de Coeurs, Group 3 winner and £1 million purchase Purr Along, and Time Being, a sister to two-year-old Group 1 winner and blue hen broodmare Passage Of Time.

With proven results in the sale ring and his highly anticipated first runners to come in 2025, Lope Y Fernandez offers excellent value for commercial breeders in Britain and beyond.

First yearlings at auction in 2024 realised €175,000, 140,000gns, 125,000gns, 85,000gns etc

2YO’S 102 TO RUN IN 2025

Trainers of first 2yo’s include: Archie Watson, Richard Fahey, Richard Hannon, Eve Johnson-Houghton, Charlie Hills, Charlie Fellowes, Jack Jones, etc. GROUP WINNING

2yo over 6 furlongs

TIMEFORM RATED

120 as a 3yo and 4yo 5x

GROUP 1 PLACED from 6.5 furlongs to 1 mile

FIRST YEARLINGS MAKING AN IMPRESSION

€175,000

Filly ex Happy Holly (Holy Roman Emperor)

Purchased by Jason Kelly Bloodstock

£80,000

Filly ex Better By Far (Exceed And Excel)

Purchased by Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock

125,000gns

Filly ex Lunar Phase (Galileo)

Purchased by Richard Ryan

£75,000

Colt ex Seven Empires (Holy Roman Emperor)

Purchased by Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock

Other purchasers included Stroud Coleman Bloodstock, Alex Elliott, Marco Bozzi Bloodstock, Robson Aguiar, Middleham Park Racing, Blandford Bloodstock, Charles Gordon-Watson Bloodstock, McKeever Bloodstock, Aidan O’Ryan, Knockgraffon Stables, JC Bloodstock, etc.

RAJASINGHE

Bay, 15.3hh | 2015 Choisir ex Bunditten (Soviet Star)

. EXCEPTIONAL VALUE .

RAJASINGHE
Choisir
Bunditten
Danehill Dancer
Great Selection
Soviet Star
Felicita

Proven source of winners

Rajasinghe was one of the best two-year-old sprinters of his generation, taking the scalps of subsequent multiple Group 1 winners Romainsed and US Navy Flag when scorching to victory in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in record time.

He also has a precocious pedigree, being by Royal Ascot sensation and successful sire of sires Choisir out of National Stakes third Bunditten, making him a half-brother to another speedy juvenile in Kurland.

He was therefore expected to get his fair share of winners when his first two-year-olds hit the track, but no one could have predicted that he would manage an exceptional 80% strike-rate, with the useful Waiting All Night and Spioradalta among the tally.

His further crops have yielded plenty more winners, including the smart Cross The Tracks and Two Tribes who have both collected in excess of £55,000 in prize money at time of writing, and the very impressive recent winner on debut, Rajaking.

Rajasinghe represents excellent value for breeders looking to use a sire whose speciality is fast, early horses.

RECORD BREAKING

COVENTRY STAKES WINNER

2024 Leading Third-Crop Sires

% winners to starters

57% WINNERS to runners GROUP WINNING 2yo over 6 furlongs

STRADIVARIUS

Chesnut, 15.3hh | 2014 Sea The

SPEED . SOUNDNESS . PEDIGREE

STRADIVARIUS

The horse who has it all

Stradivarius established himself as one of the most popular racehorses of recent times, winning 20 races over seven seasons from the ages of two to eight. His record of 18 Group successes is unmatched in the history of the Pattern and his roll of honour is headed by three Gold Cups and four Goodwood Cups.

His trademark was outstanding acceleration, and on several occasions he finished his races in a faster time than other Group winners over shorter distances on the same card. For example, when he won the Goodwood Cup in 2020 he ran the final four furlongs in a quicker time than Space Blues when he won the Lennox Stakes over seven furlongs.

Stradivarius was a straightforward soul with a determined will to win and never raced on medication or missed an engagement through injury or ill health – a remarkable feat considering he ran so often, and on all sorts of going at such a wide range of tracks.

The beautifully bred son of Sea The Stars, who has wowed visitors to the National Stud with his stunning physique, swaggering walk and magnetic personality, has covered over 220 mares in his first two seasons, a high proportion of whom were stakes performers in their own careers.

His hugely anticipated first foals arrived in 2024 and received rave reviews from their breeders. Reported to have inherited plenty of their sire’s strength and athleticism, this first crop made such an impression that many mares returned to Stradivarius as a result.

Highlighting his ongoing appeal to breeders, Stradivarius covered a second high-quality book in 2024 of over 100 mares including dual Group 2 winner La Pomme d’Amour who is also the dam of Group 1 Irish Champions Stakes winner Economics, and Janey Muddles, the winning dam of Grade 1 runner-up Awesometank. Also currently in foal to him is the well-related Galileo mare Lola Paige, whose filly by Too Darn Hot topped the second day of Book 2 when selling for 600,000gns to Al Shaqab and Amo Racing.

After a record-breaking career on the racetrack, the success of this iconic horse looks set to continue.

MARES COVERED in his first two seasons

ex Queen’s Dream (Oasis Dream)

Filly born 17/02/24

Breeder: Sir Alex Ferguson

“Our Stradivarius filly is very precocious looking and full of character. She has a great walk to her and we are very excited by her.”

GREG PARSONS Upperwood Farm Stud

7 GROUP 1 WINS

18 GROUP WINS

More than any other European horse TIMEFORM RATED

130

Career earnings in excess of £3.4 MILLION

ex Greatestshowgirl (Showcasing)

Colt born 03/03/24

Breeder: Kim Bartlett & Mike Beever

“My Stradivarius colt is one of the nicest foals I have bred. He has size, bone and a gorgeous action coupled with a lovely attitude. I’m very excited to take him to auction where I have no doubt he will draw plenty of attention from potential buyers.”

KIM BARTLETT

Millfields Stables

ex Hope Is High (Sir Percy)

Filly born 29/02/24

Breeder: Emma Berry

“I really can’t fault her at this early stage. She has been incredibly active from day one, with a big personality to match her great stride.”

EMMA BERRY

ex Give Me Breath (Bated Breath)

Filly born 15/01/24

Breeder: Wretham Stud

“We are delighted with our filly foal by Stradivarius. She has a striking resemblance to her sire, possessing plenty of quality and athleticism at such an early stage. She is the nicest foal the mare has produced.”

BECKY SMITH

EXCELLENCE AS STANDARD

Kind Of Blue

Raised and grazed at the National Stud

British Champions Sprint Gr.1 (main image)

Friendly Soul

Foaled at The National Stud Prix de l’Opera Gr.1

The highest standards of care, expertise and communication

Every horse boarding at The National Stud, permanent or seasonal, receives the highest standard of care from our experienced team and will be seen/ treated by industry respected vets and farriers.

We provide first-class client communication, keeping you updated on every stage of the breeding and foaling processes with owner visits always welcome.

Foaling

Our purpose-built foaling unit is manned 24 hours per day from January until the last mare of the season has safely foaled. The dedicated foaling unit team are on hand to monitor and care for your mare and newborn foal in those vital first days.

We also have a limited number of spaces for Southern Hemisphere foaling available on request

Seasonal & Permanent Boarding

The National Stud is the perfect location to board mares with it based in the heart of Newmarket and a stone’s throw away from the majority of the UK’s leading stallion farms.

Vet rounds from Rossdales and Newmarket Equine Hospital are scheduled daily throughout the breeding season and our team organise all covering paperwork and transport requirements.

EQUINE REST & RECUPERATION

Tailored equine care for young stock, horses in training and rehabilitation.

The perfect place for your horse to rest or recuperate with our highly experienced team and facilities that accommodate the individual requirements of every horse from cage, nursery and small paddock turnout to customised exercise regimes. .

Recent spellers include Cachet

1st 1000 Guineas Gr.1 2nd Poule d’Essai des Pouliches Gr.1

Docklands

1st Britannia Stakes, Royal Ascot, 2nd Queen Anne Stakes Gr.1

Believing

1st Sapphire Stakes Gr.2, 2nd Flying Five Stakes Gr.1, Nunthorpe Stakes Gr.1 (picture below)

FULFILLING POTENTIAL

Yearlings in 2024 realised 170,000gns 140,000gns £130,000 £100,000 etc.

A comprehensive sales preparation and consignment service for all major UK sales

As a client you can expect top-class and newly refurbished sales preparation facilities, regular communication from our experienced team and the highest standards of horsemandship to prepare your horse for the sale ring.

Consignment graduates include

You Got To Me

Irish Oaks Gr.1 (picture below)

Queen Picasso

Soaring Softley Gr.3

Marshman

Prix Sigy Gr.3

Fast Tracker

Prix de Sureness L.

WHERE IT ALL BEGINS

One of the world’s leading education providers to the Thoroughbred Industry

The National Stud’s education programme is open to students of all abilities and provides a supportive learning environment to kickstart your career in the thoroughbred industry. We also offer a variety of short courses and CPD events throughout the year.

Our residential courses can be completed in a part-time non-residential capacity and we also offer a variety of CPD awards and short courses.

Level 3 Stud Management & Sales Consignment Course

A 28-week course from September to April which covers the entirety of the stud year from yearling preparation and bloodstock sales to foaling and handling youngstock throughout the thoroughbred breeding season.

For individuals with industry experience looking to accelerate their career progression with non-residential and part-time options available.

Entry to Stud Employment

A residential training programme introducing people with no previous equine experience or those with generic equine experience to the thoroughbred breeding industry. Learners will focus on foaling, handling youngstock and working with thoroughbreds in and out of training. If successfully completed participants will achieve an accredited qualification. Applicants must be 18 years or older by the course start date.

Apprenticeships

The Level 2 Equine Pathway Apprenticeship (Breeding option) is an 18-month course completed on a UK stud farm. Earn whilst you learn and gain practical experience from industry professionals. Delivered in partnership with Myerscough College you can expect regular guidance from a National Stud or Myerscough assessor.

The Level 3 Equine pathway Apprenticeship (Breeding option) is for individuals working in the thoroughbred industry looking to progress and gain the experience required for a managerial position. The apprenticeships are for those aged 16+ with generic horse handling experience.

Supported by The Alborada Trust, Tattersalls, The Wavertree Education Trust, The EB Mollar Trust, The Gerald Leigh Charitable Trust, The Horseracing & Betting Levy Board, The Childwick Trust, Watership Down Stud, The John Pearce Foundation.

A UNIQUE INSIGHT

Guided Tours with Discover Newmarket

Our tour guides have exceptional thoroughbred knowledge which they convey in an enthusiastic, educational and entertaining way. Every tour provides a unique insight into the world of thoroughbred breeding with foals, yearlings and mares available to see all year round alongside our famous stallion roster. The living Legends are firm favourites with all visitors, with Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Lord Windermere and threetime Group 1 winner The Tin Man both enjoying their retirement at the National Stud.

Just had the best tour ever! Our guide was a font of knowledge! She was articulate, informative and her passion for all that we saw was infectious. Then on to the National Stud…..surely one of the most serene, peaceful places in England. Mares and foals all looking healthy, happy and chilled. Got to see the legend Stradivarius in all his glory and gave a few polos and pats to Lord Windermere and the Tin Man, who will live out their days in this magnificent place. I cannot recommend this tour highly enough.

Jacqui d – May, 2024

Absolutely brilliant tour of the National Stud with Nigel. The knowledge he has from working at the stud previously is immense. He delivers it with humour and was an excellent host. We enjoyed every minute, it was an excellent experience seeing the stallions in the paddock and roaming free. A lot of hard work by all involved to get these horses to the racetrack.

211lucydiamon – July, 2024

Phone 01638 501122

Email admin@discovernewmarket.co.uk

A RICH HISTORY

Colonel William Hall Walker approached the British Government with a proposal designed to rectify the country’s dangerous shortage of Thoroughbred stallions, which was limiting the breeding of calvary remounts. The proposal was for the government to purchase Hall Walker’s 1,100 acre estate in Tully, Ireland and if agreed then he would gift the British Nation the entirety of his bloodstock. The governments eventual acceptance of the proposal founded The National Stud and Captain Henry Greer was appointed as the stud’s first manager; under his leadership the stud produced high class and hugely successful staying stock.

1915

Under the newly appointed manager Peter Burrell, The National Stud had an outstanding year with their homebred’s and were responsible for breeding four out of five of the 1942 classic winners. The phenomenal filly Sun Chariot won the Fillies’ Triple Crown and Big Game took the 2,000 Guineas.

1942

1919

Prince of Wales’ Stakes winner and three-time champion sire, Blandford, was foaled. The National Stud bred and raised Blandford, and he was the landmark of their early breeding success. One of the most influential stallions in the 20th century, Blandford sired 11 classic winners and remains one of only four stallions to have sired four Derby winners to date.

1943

Ownership of Tully (Ireland) land was transferred to the Irish Government and the National Stud relocated to Sandley Stud in Dorset, with a second stud based in West Grinstead, Sussex.

HM The Queen officially opened our current site on 17th April. Peter Burrell is the longest standing director of the stud to date and is responsible for the layout of the farm today.

1967

In April 2008, The National Stud was acquired by the Jockey Club, which is governed by Royal Charter and its commercial operations act solely for the good of British Horseracing.

2008

Green and gold became the new statement colours of The National Stud as the Jockey Club rebrands!

2023

1963

Newmarket became the new home of the National Stud after the Levy Board took over and leased 500 acres from the Jockey Club.

1973

Owner-breeder Paul Mellon retired Mill Reef for stallion duties at The National Stud. Mill Reef won the Derby in 1971 and sired 2 Derby winners during his illustrious career at stud in Shirley Heights and Reference Point. Public tours of The National Stud commenced in the mid 1970’s.

2018

The Queen was appointed as the first ever patron of The National Stud. Her first official visit was in May 2019, where she planted a tree to mark the re-opening of the newly refurbished stallion unit.

BOARD MEMBERS

Lord Grimthorpe (Chairman)

Fred Barrelet

Stuart Clark

Dawn Goodfellow

Sam Sangster

Nancy Sexton

Anita Wigan

Lisa Brown

Stud Manager

lisa.brown@nationalstud.co.uk Abbie

abbie.taylor@nationalstud.co.uk Heather

design & production
Simon Mitchell
stallion intros Martin Stevens
photography Dominic James, Hannah Ali, Healy Racing, Peter Mooney, Melanie Sauer & Mark Westley

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