Cairo Prince retired, to stand at Airdrie Stud

Grade 2 winner Cairo Prince, an early favorite on the 2014 Kentucky Derby trail, has been retired from racing and will make his stallion debut during the 2015 breeding season at Airdrie Stud in Midway, Ky., for an advertised fee of $10,000.

The 3-year-old son of Pioneerof the Nile finishes his career with 3 wins in 5 starts for earnings of $562,000. He gained notoriety with wins in the Grade 2 Nashua Stakes and Holy Bull Stakes, prompting Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum’s Darley to purchase a majority interest the horse from the partnership of Namcook Stables, Paul Braverman, Harvey Clarke and Craig Robertson.

Cairo Prince was the post-time favorite in the Grade 1 Florida Derby, but finished fourth and was taken off the Derby trail due to injury. It was his final start.

“This is a horse that was an absolute top 2-year-old and then showed the 3-year-old brilliance to be the favorite for the Kentucky Derby,” said Brereton Jones of Airdrie Stud. “He’s also an absolutely gorgeous individual by one of the hottest young stallions in America. Everything is in place for him to be a top stallion, and the commitment that Airdrie and Darley have made to the horse will help get him there.”

Bred in Kentucky by Richard and Katherine Elam, Cairo Prince is out of the Grade 3-placed stakes-winning Holy Bull mare Holy Bubbette, whose four winners from as many foals to race also include Grade 1-placed Nonna Mia and stakes-placed Holdin Bullets.