Flying Childers winner was a breeze-up sales-topper and won the Windsor Castle in a faster time than Profitable’s G1 King’s Stand on the same day.
Ardad, who memorably streaked more than three lengths clear in the Windsor Castle Stakes last year, has been retired. In a deal brokered by Blandford Bloodstock, the son of Kodiac who went on to defeat a top class field in the G2 Flying Childers Stakes will stand at Overbury Stud. His fee will be £6,500 Oct 1, SLF, with breeding rights available.
Sold for a sales-topping £170,000 at the Goffs UK breeze-up sale last spring, Ardad made an effortless winning debut at Yarmouth in early June. Turned out just six days later on the opening day at Royal Ascot, Ardad took the Windsor Castle Stakes by an impressive three-and-a-quarter lengths. Future leading sprinter Battaash was among the beaten horses, and Ardad’s winning time was faster than Profitable‘s in the G1 King’s Stand Stakes on the same afternoon. The victory earned Ardad a Timeform Timefigure of 111, the highest of any Royal Ascot juvenile by specialist Royal Ascot sire Kodiac.
Ardad went on to defeat an elite field of sprint two-year-olds in the G2 Flying Childers Stakes, where future stallions The Last Lion and Prince Of Lir were among those he defeated. He was ridden that day by Frankie Dettori who said, ‘Ardad’s very fast. He’s blessed with natural speed.’
Ardad’s sire Kodiac – who currently lies just one winner behind Sunday Silence’s long-held world record for two-year-old winners in a season – is the best Royal Ascot sire of the day, having had more winners or placed horses at the meeting since his first stock ran in 2010 than any other stallion. Ardad’s dam is by fellow Royal Ascot winner Red Clubs, and is a half-sister to high-class sprinter Ruby Rocket, who went on to produce the tough G1 Prix de l’Abbaye and G2 British Champions Sprint winner Maarek.
John Gosden, Ardad’s trainer, said of him, ‘A strong, fast, powerful and precocious colt with a great mind. A pleasure to train and a real Royal Ascot two-year-old.’
Simon Sweeting, manager of Overbury Stud, said, ‘Ardad is a smashing-looking horse, a sales topper and G2 winner who won at Royal Ascot. Kodiac is immensely popular because owners and trainers really value the speed and precocity he imparts. And Ardad is as pure an expression of speed and precocity as you are likely to see. We’re thrilled to have him.’
Meanwhile, Ardad’s owner, Abdullah al Naboodah, is lining up some of his quality young mares for the stallion, with G3 Fred Darling winner Dabyah already on his dance card.
