By Katie Midwinter
THE NATIONAL STUD
The National Stud in Newmarket was founded in 1916, inspired by William Hall Walker’s proposition designed to ensure the future of the Thoroughbred in Britain, and became a great success with the production of quality foals.
Many famous names have been based at The National Stud, with early success provided by the likes of Blandford, Sun Chariot and Big Game. The legendary Mill Reef, winner of the Greenham Stakes, the Derby, Eclipse, King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe as a three-year-old, enjoyed a fruitful career at stud, with many of his progeny going on to win the sport’s greatest prizes, most notably Derby winner Shirley Heights.
It is an establishment enriched in history and, with the recent acquisition of star stayer Stradivarius, as well as the success of stallion Time Test, the value represented in stallion Rajasinghe, and the arrival of Lope Y Fernandez’s first crop of foals, the future looks bright.
The National Stud was acquired by The Jockey Club in 2008, showing a commitment to the future sustainability of the Thoroughbred breeding and horse racing industry.
“Our aim at The National Stud is to act for the greater good of British Thoroughbred breeding, keeping stallions and mares in the UK and keeping foal production numbers high and supporting British breeders in their endeavours,” said Chief Executive Officer, Anna Kerr.
“We currently have four stallions, a roster we’ll be looking to grow. Our optimum number is between six and eight stallions. It depends on price point, quality and what’s available.
“The UK stallion market can be quite volatile and it’s very difficult to secure quality stallions to make them accessible for British breeders, and that’s something we’re always working on.”
The number of stallions standing at the stud depends on the calibre of stallions available. The National Stud has been the home of many middle distance horses over the years including Mill Reef who was described as a “great champion and influence of speed in the breed” by Kerr.
Dual Group One winner Bohemian Bounty also enjoyed success at the stud and sired July Cup winner Pastoral Pursuits. He was based at the stud for a long time before his passing in 2020.
STRADIVARIUS
Stradivarius captured the hearts of racing fans across the world over the years, from his maiden success at Newcastle as a juvenile in 2016 to his third Yorkshire Cup success in his final season as a racehorse, with three Gold Cups, four Goodwood Cups among many other accolades, in between. The flashy chestnut won the Cartier Champion Stayer award three times between 2018 and 2020 and earned himself a career-high Timeform rating of 130.
With seven Group One successes to his name and eighteen Group level wins overall, the most of any European horse, the son of Sea The Stars has been a remarkable servant to owner-breeder Bjorn Nielsen and the John Gosden yard, now in partnership with son Thady.
His soundness to complete seven seasons of racing with very few problems, as well as his versatility and quality pedigree, makes him an extremely attractive prospect for potential breeders, despite the faster, sprinter types being more fashionable in the current climate.
The possibility of breeding and owning a horse capable of performing in the staying cup races is surely an enticing opportunity, and with Stradivarius’ electric turn of foot alongside his strong staying prowess, his future progeny will surely be well equipped to deal with tough races at the highest level if they are to inherit some of their sire’s qualities.
After seven years in training at Clarehaven Stables, a change in home and career must have been strange for the nine-year-old, but he has been settling in well to life as a stallion in his new surroundings at The National Stud.
“With a horse of his age, people didn’t really know how he would settle into that routine of being a stallion and having a purpose everyday to broodmares,” explained Joe Bradley, Head of Bloodstock at The National Stud.
“He’s done amazingly well and that’s probably a credit to the facilities we have at The National Stud, and most importantly the staff who dedicate their lives to looking after these horses. Strad’s really happy and we’re looking forward to his second year standing at The National Stud.”
Fans and racegoers will have been used to seeing a boisterous Stradivarius, full of life as he majestically marched around the parade ring, showing everyone his coltish and playful nature, his personality clear to see. It appears he is the same now as a stallion, still as likeable and energetic as always, with his own personality.
“Stradivarius is full of personality. Every stallion has their own personality, different little things they do. He’s a very straightforward horse to handle and I think that’s probably a sign that he’s happy in himself, likes his job and likes the routine that he’s in,” continued Bradley.
“The guys will get in about 6:30am, they’ll be fed, put in the paddock at this time of year where they’ll be for most of the day. We think it’s really important at the stud not only for the minds of the stallions but also in terms of fertility just to be out in the paddock for as much time as possible, where they’re happy and in their natural environment.
“It’s slightly different in the breeding season where he is dictated by the mares he’s covering that day, somewhere between one to four mares per day, and if he is covering mares he will stay in his box until that is done then go out to his paddock.”
Stradivarius stands at the stud for £10,000, and covered 120 mares in his first season as a stallion, a figure that is comparable to other top first season stallions. His owner-breeder, Nielsen, offered multiple incentives to encourage breeders to support his stallion, including a £250,000 bonus if one of his first crop of foals is able to win a Group One in England, Ireland or France. His first ten two-year-old winners in the aforementioned nations, as well as in Germany, will receive a £25,000 bonus.
“I think we knew when we were getting into Stradivarius how well he’d be received. We looked at his race record, his turn of foot that he had, his soundness that he had throughout his whole career.
“Full credit to Bjorn Nielsen for establishing that scheme which I think has made a really massive difference. He [Stradivarius] is a horse that had so many qualities that we want in thoroughbreds and I think breeders really saw that. We’re happy that he was so well supported.”
There had been plenty of talk surrounding Stradivarius’ career at stud, with many of the opinion that a future as a National Hunt stallion was in the offing, given his excellent staying ability. However, Nielsen has been keen to ensure his superstar is given every chance to succeed as a Flat stallion, and the majority of broodmares that have been covered by Stradivarius are Flat-bred.
“Breeders were able to see that what it takes to be a top quality thoroughbred, racing on the Flat, he had all of those qualities so they’re very happy to support him with Flat mares and he had a wide range of book, there’s no typical mare that he covered, a range of distances, a range of pedigrees and a range of owners as well, so that’s been very positive.”
Stradivarius’ first crop of foals will arrive next year, and if they are able to possess the qualities of their sire, they will surely be horses to follow for years to come.
TIME TEST
A leading first season sire by black-type winners in 2021, dual Group Two winner Time Test has taken well to his new career as a stallion. His most successful progeny to date is Group Two winner Crypto Force who on debut beat a subsequent Derby winner and recent Irish Champions Stakes victor in the exceptionally bred son of Deep Impact, Auguste Rodin.
Time Test also boasts a Group Three winner in Flaming Rabbit, now plying his trade in Hong Kong to great success, earning almost half-a-million in prize money and performing at a 29% strike rate on track.
By Dubawi, out of Group One-winning Passage Of Time (Dansili), Time Test is an exciting stallion to follow, with an attractive pedigree and impressive statistics.
“Time Test is a really important stallion for us. We love him very much. He’s consistently getting the winners and has been supported again by breeders this year very well. I think the future is really bright for Time Test,” said Bradley.
Standing for £15,000, a fee that looks to represent plenty of value, will his fee rise in the coming seasons if his success as a stallion continues?
“We really haven’t crossed that bridge yet. We set our fees before the breeding season. We’ll sit down and review all stallions and set them at a price that has the breeder in mind.”
LOPE Y FERNANDEZ
The impressive son of Lope De Vega out of Dansili mare Black Dahlia was a Group Three winner as a juvenile, before going on to place in multiple Group One levels over varying distances.
A versatile horse, he was beaten only by Palace Pier in the Queen Anne Stakes and narrowly defeated by Space Blues in the Prix Maurice de Gheest, consistently performing at the top level in competitive races.
Third of a Ballydoyle trio in the Breeders’ Cup Mile in the final race of his penultimate season was another impressive performance, and he has covered an exciting book of mares in his first season as a stallion including half-sisters to the likes of Showcasing, Kodi Bear and Subjectivist.
“We couldn’t be happier with Lope Y Fernandez’s foals and for all the partners involved,” enthused Bradley. “We had the privilege of seeing so many born at our own farm, we know Whitsbury Manor, Nick Bradley have also seen some quality foals. They’ll be heading to foal sales this year.
“We’re so excited about him. He was an amazing racehorse, really raced at the top level and for such an affordable fee by Lope De Vega, we’re just so excited for the future.”
RAJASINGHE
A winner of the Coventry Stakes in 2017, beating a field including U S Navy Flag who went on to win two Group One contests that season, Rajasinghe stands at The National Stud for a fee of £3,000.
The son of Choisir was a leading first season sire by winners to runners with an 80% success rate, and is 52% with his winners to runners from 21 horses, with many of his progeny going on to win multiple times.
Asked if Rajasinghe represents value as a stallion given his impressive statistics, Anna Kerr answered, “Rajasinghe absolutely represents value to breeders. His stats are really quite phenomenal, from very small books what he’s achieved.
“They’re hardy, tough racehorses [his progeny], and exactly what trainers would want. He keeps defying the odds and we’re absolutely chuffed to bits with how he’s performing so far.”
“A big topic of conversation is sustainability within the sport, and sustainability financially as well is an important aspect of what The National Stud does, so for a stallion that can consistently get you winners and upgrade your mare, we don’t think that anybody should be breeding to any other horse apart from Rajasinghe at that level,” Joe Bradley added.
Many thanks to The National Stud and their staff for the welcome and their time.
THE CONDITIONAL 
It’s a wonderful place to visit. I must get back there one day armed with a couple of packets of polos.
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