Big names headed to Journeyman Stud

Its all but a done deal, were the words of Brent Fernung, who will be standing the Grade 1 winner Circular Quay for the 2009 breeding season at his Journeyman Stud. The deal is the syndication of the stallion prospect into 50 shares. Forty-seven shares have already been sold, he said. By Thunder Gulch-Circle of Life, by Belong to Me, the 4-year-old Circular Quay was trained by Todd Pletcher. He will stand for $12,500 live foal.

Another stallion prospect likely headed Journeyman Studs way is the Marias Mon 6-year-old graded stakes winner Gaff. No fee has been announced for him. Fernung also said that there was a good possibility that Journeyman Stud could stand a recently retired A.P. Indy stakes winner. Ill have more to say about this horse later, he said.

Lido Palace getting looks

The Chilean-bred Lido Palace, standing for $5,000 live foal, has perked interest from Europe, according to Lambholm Farms Roy Lerman. We have had some nibbles about selling him, said Lerman. If he had come up with Vineyard Haven in his first crop, rather than his second crop, the phones would be off the hook. Wed like to keep Lido Palace in Florida.

Lynn Scace, breeder of Vineyard Haven, has not yet booked her mare back to Lido Palace for 09, but Lerman says that a half-sister, by Skip Trial, to the dam of Vineyard Haven has been booked for the coming season.

Chapel Royal on the way

Chapel Royal sold for $1.2 million in 2003 at the Ocala Breeders Sales Co.s February sale of 2-year-olds in training. Ashford Stud bought him. He developed into a graded stakes winner at 2 and hit the board in the Breeders Cup Juvenile.

Its been announced that this son of Montbrook is reversing the trend of starting stud duties in Florida, and if the stallion hits, then going on to Kentucky. Chapel Royal will relocate to Bill Schettines Signature Thoroughbreds in Ocala for 2009 after serving four seasons in Kentucky.

Chapel Royal has 148 foals in his first crop and 17 winners, including the stakes winner Vegas Wedding. He stood in Kentucky for $10,000 live foal and will stand in Florida for the same fee.

Belgravia fee set at $5,000

Belgravia, by Mr. Greeley-Peaks Mill, by Stalwart, joins the notorious The Green Monkey on the stallion roster of Hartley-DeRenzo. Belgravia was a $2 million buy at the Fasig-Tipton Calder sale of 2-year-olds in training and went on to win the Grade 3 Hollywood Prevue Stakes. He will stand, as will The Green Monkey, for $5,000 live foal.

Zamindar: From flop to star

Zamindar is undeniably one of Europes premier sires. He is the sire of the brilliant multiple Group 1 winner Darjina and he is the sire of this years possible European horse of the year, the Arc de Triomphe winner Zarkava.

Owned by Juddmonte Farms, Zamindar stood in 2001 and 2002 at Doug Hendersons Marablue Farm in Florida, but the then 7-year-old stallion was virtually ignored by local breeders, siring 30 foals in his first crop in Florida and 24 in his second crop.

Zamindar, by Gone West, was a respectable Group 3 racehorse in the colors of Juddmonte. He was, however, overshadowed by his older brother Zafonic, a classic winner and European horse of the year.

Zamindar was initially given an opportunity in stud at Juddmontes operation in Britain. But Zafonic was the stallion breeders wanted to patronize. Juddmonte had a relationship with Henderson and so Zamindar was shipped to Florida away from his brothers charismatic appeal.

European stallions with European families have never fared well in Florida. Top-class French-bred stakes winners with French families Prince Taj, Roi Dagobert, Wolfram struggled in Florida. Other than from Juddmonte and Marablue Farm, there were few outside bookings to Zamindar at his advertised $5,000 live foal.

In 2002 Zafonic died suddenly, and Zamindar was sent to Europe. The rest, as the saying goes, is history.