‘I can’t see better value among all the proven stallions in Britain.’ So says Simon Sweeting of Overbury Stud about leading Royal Ascot two-year-old sire Ardad, who will stand his third season at £12,500 Oct 1st, SLF. The 10-year-old son of Kodiac sired three-time G1 winner and European Champion three-year-old sprinter Perfect Power in his first crop, and now has 153 two-year-olds of 2025 to represent him from his fifth, breed-back crop. ‘They’re by far his biggest and best-bred bunch so far, conceived on the back of that sensational start,’ says Sweeting, ‘and they were extremely well-received at the sales.’
Ardad’s latest yearling average is £43,000 for 85 sold. His 18 in Tattersalls Book Two did especially well, with a 100% clearance rate, a 420,000gns top lot and an £86,000 average, making him the sale’s most profitable stallion with at least 15 sold. ‘Trainers and agents seem to really like them – they are such good-walking, good tempered horses – and Ardad had half a dozen six-figure sales in England, Ireland and France, led by the filly bought by Amo Racing,’ added Sweeting. ‘They averaged almost seven times his fee. We’d be very hopeful that this big, quality crop will deliver even more of the strong results we’re used to getting from him, especially with his precocious two-year-olds.’
Since his first crop ran in 2021, Ardad has sired four juveniles who have won or placed at Royal Ascot, all in G2 races. That’s more than any other stallion – No Nay Never, Wootton Bassett and Havana Grey are next on the list. Ardad has had four Group- or Stakes-performing two-year-olds this season – including G2 Coventry colt Columnist, who sold for £170,000 at the breeze-ups, and the Two-Year-Old Trophy winner Candy. That matches the 2024 totals achieved by Night Of Thunder, Havana Grey, Hello Youmzain and Showcasing, but from fewer named foals.
Overbury Stud also stands fellow G2 Flying Childers winner Caturra, one of the first top two-year-olds by leading sire Mehmas. ‘Caturra’s first foals are strong, well-grown and athletic and buyers will I hope be impressed when they inspect them at the sales,’ says Sweeting. ‘We’re really pleased with them. Looking ahead, a point worth remembering is how well all those breeders did who sent mares to Ardad in his third season: his yearling stats from that year are well worth looking up!’ Caturra, who won the Flying Childers in a faster time than recent winners Big Evs and Aesterius – and faster, too, than Ardad – stands for an unchanged £5,000 Oct 1st, SLF.
Horse of the Year Golden Horn, sire of a new G3 winner this week in the shape of fast-progressing three-year-old filly Higher Leaves in the Prix Fille de l’Air, will again cover at £10,000 Oct 1st, SLF. ‘You know what you get with Golden Horn – a shot at a smashing horse who can give years of pleasure. He’s a stallion with so many fans,’ says Sweeting. His high-class performers in 2023 also include G1 stayers Gregory and Trawlerman, and classy filly Caius Chorister – beaten a head in both the Sagaro and Henry II Stakes. ‘The resale market for the Golden Horns is outstanding,’ says Sweeting. ‘In 2024, he’s had a G1 horse in Dubai and Group 3 and Stakes winners in Australia, plus a Listed sprinter in the Middle East.’ Meanwhile, his hurdlers have also been in great form, Golden Ace winning the Dawn Run at the Cheltenham Festival after Nemean Lion had won the Welsh Champion Hurdle and the Kingwell. Harold Kirk signed for two Golden Horns at the Horse In Training Sale for Willie Mullins for 330,000gns and 200,000gns describing their sire as ‘Sexy!’ Golden Horn’s latest juveniles are led by Newmarket maiden winner Seaplane who was fourth in the G1 Futurity Trophy and is already rated 106.
Sweeting also stands Dubawi’s son Frontiersman and Jack Hobbs, runner-up in Golden Horn’s Derby and winner of the Irish Derby. ‘These two are doing marvellously well with their young jumpers,’ he says. ‘Jack Hobbs is all the talk in the Irish pointing field – his recent Cheltenham winner Intense Approach was sold for £210,000 and is being aimed at the Alfred Bartlett. Meanwhile, Frontiersman’s first jumper is the 130-rated four-year-old Dodger Long, and he also has a really talented Stakes filly on the flat, Asian Daze, who was bought by Gai Waterhouse for £200,000 to race in Australia. We’ll set fees for these two once we’ve been able to see a bit more of what their jumpers can do.’
A jumping stallion whose fee is not going to change is Overbury’s magnificent veteran Schiaparelli, the German Derby winner and full-brother to the dam of Sea The Moon. He continues to get winners under all codes and is available to breeders at £2,000 Oct 1st, SLF. ‘Schiaparelli gets resolute, progressive horses who give of their all and recent Cheltenham winner Wyenot might be another mare in the mould of his high-class daughter Indefatigable. Look down his list of offspring and there’s any number you’d have been delighted to have bred. It’s not surprising he’s got his loyal fans.’
