Seeking the Dia, a multiple group stakes winner in Japan who earned over $5 million in his career, will relocate to the Appleton family’s Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, Fla., for 2013.
Coil, a three-time stakes winner best known for winning the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park in 2011, will be retired to stud at Magali Farms in California for the 2013 breeding season.
Any respect afforded to the 2-year-old California-bred Weewinnin in early 2013 is going to come grudgingly.
The male line of Northern Dancer maintained its supremacy in graded stakes winners in North America in 2012, with 119 of the 348 winners tracing to him.
Highlighted by the $10 million sale of Havre de Grace, the 2012 auction season largely fulfilled hopes that the Thoroughbred marketplace had stabilized after the recession. But that’s not to say it was easy.
Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta produced their first foals in early 2012, among the many happy highlights during a year in which Thoroughbred breeding activity continued its decline.
Rulership, a Group 1 winner in Hong Kong this year, has been retired and will enter stud in 2013 at Shadai Stallion Station on the island of Hokkaido, Japan.
Reigning Horse of the Year Havre de Grace will be sent to Tapit for her initial mating in 2013, while 2011 Kentucky Oaks winner Plum Pretty will be bred to Distorted Humor.
Xaar, a European champion whose progeny have earned over $27 million, has been pensioned from stud duty by Darley Japan.
Acclamation is starting his stud career in 2013 at the top. The soon-to-be 7-year-old is the first Eclipse Award winner to retire to stand his first year at stud in California since Bertrando, the champion older male of 1993.
