Animal Kingdom has first mares confirmed in foal

Six mares have been confirmed in foal to Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup winner Animal Kingdom, who is standing his first season at stud at Arrowfield Stud in New South Wales, Australia.

The 5-year-old Leroidesanimaux horse is standing the Southern Hemisphere season for an advertised fee of about $36,375 ($38,500 Australian). He will shuttle to stand the Northern Hemisphere season at Darley’s Jonabell Farm in Lexington, Ky., after that operation purchased an interest in him following his dominant Dubai World Cup victory.

"He's the smartest first-season stallion I have seen in the barn, an absolute natural and a pleasure to work with,” Arrowfield operations manager Sam Fairgray said.

Animal Kingdom, who was trained by Graham Motion for owner-breeder Team Valor International, won five of 12 career starts, and also finished second five times, for earnings of $8,387,500. In addition to the Derby and World Cup, the 2011 champion 3-year-old male also won the Grade 3 Spiral Stakes. He finished second in three Grade 1 events – the Preakness Stakes, Breeders’ Cup Mile, and Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap.

Animal Kingdom’s first book includes the likes of Australian champions Alinghi and Miss Finland; Queensland Oaks winner Vitesse Dane; Group 2 winner Merlene De Lago; Weekend Beauty, dam of Australian Horse of the Year Weekend Hussler; Group 1 producer Ribe; and stakes winners Armed For Action, Gibraltar Campion, Miss Bussell and Suspicion.