Multinational group will stand Flintshire after Breeders' Cup

A multinational partnership has been formed to stand multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Flintshire in Kentucky.

Flintshire was to make his final start as the morning-line favorite in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Turf and then retire to Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms in Kentucky. Hill ‘n’ Dale is one of four partners in his stud career, along with owner-breeder Juddmonte Farms, the China Horse Club, and S.F. Bloodstock.

Flintshire’s fee will be announced later.

“This is an exciting group that has come together to support and stand behind an incredible international star who brought his best race to every corner of the globe and distinguished himself truly as a horse of the world,” Hill ‘n’ Dale’s John G. Sikura said. “The fact that Juddmonte is staying in and has committed mares to him says a lot about their belief in the horse.

“I believe Kentucky needs to become more global again in attracting international stallion prospects,” Sikura added. “Look at the success of War Front and Kitten’s Joy. We should be embracing these kinds of opportunities in order to be relevant to all marketplaces. I have been waiting for the right horse to stand that fits this mold. I believe Flintshire is the one.”

Juddmonte stands six stallions – including the unbeaten champion Frankel and Flintshire’s sire, Dansili – at its Banstead Manor Stud in Newmarket, England. It has only one stallion at its Kentucky farm, the veteran Mizzen Mast, despite having a robust broodmare band in the United States. First Defence – who had been the most recent addition to the Kentucky farm in 2009 – was recently sold to stand in Saudi Arabia.

Hill ‘n’ Dale has been expanding and strengthening its stallion roster, with the most significant move being the acquisition of a share of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin in 2015. The farm, in partnership with Stonestreet, subsequently moved Curlin to Hill ‘n’ Dale. The horse is in the midst of a banner run, with horses such as champion Stellar Wind, Preakness winner Exaggerator, and Grade 1 winners Curalina and Keen Ice on the track, and will stand for $150,000 in 2017.

Hill ‘n’ Dale also added a pair of Breeders’ Cup winners, Bayern and Secret Circle, to the roster in 2016 and has moved the standout young sire Kantharos, also a Stonestreet runner, from Florida to Kentucky for 2017.

The Flintshire partnership also represents the latest aggressive move by the nascent China Horse Club to acquire prominent stallion interests, both internationally and at a variety of Kentucky farms. Last month, the China Horse Club bought a share in 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome, who is expected to stand at Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky in 2017; it also holds interests in Exaggerator and Grade 1 winner Daredevil, both at WinStar Farm.

Flintshire entered the Breeders’ Cup with eight wins in 23 career starts and earnings of $8,909,910. He is a Grade/Group 1 winner in three countries, having scored in the Manhattan Stakes and two renewals of the Sword Dancer in the U.S., the Grand Prix de Paris in France, and the Hong Kong Vase in Hong Kong. He was also Group 1-placed in England and Dubai.