A stunning season for Ardad’s first crop of two-year-olds culminated in him being the leading freshman sire in Britain and third overall in Europe.
Ardad complied a tally of 23 winners throughout 2021 with the standout being his dual Group 1-winning son Perfect Power. Bred by Tally-Ho Stud and trained by Richard Fahey for Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum, Perfect Power broke his maiden in June and eight days later headed straight to Royal Ascot to win the G2 Norfolk Stakes. Beaten only just over a length when fifth in the G2 Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, he then went on to score consecutive Group 1 wins in the Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes.
The Charlie Fellowes-trained Eve Lodge was another of his leading lights, winning twice, including the G3 Sirenia Stakes, while Vintage Clarets was also kept busy, running on the opening say of the season when fourth in the Brocklesby Stakes before winning his next two starts and finishing third in the G2 Coventry Stakes at Ascot.
Ardad’s other winners with a rating in excess of 90 are the dual scorers Admiral D and Tipperary Sunset as well as Eidikos.
Ardad’s offspring were in demand at the sales this year, with a yearling average of 53,133gns from 30 sold with a top price of 190,000gns. His foal sale average was 34,000gns with all nine weanlings offered being sold. This amounted to half his smallest crop of just 18. His 2022 crop of foals will be well into three figures, having covered 156 mares in 2021.
