Carl Spackler returning to U.S., will stand at Lane's End for Ace Stud

Multiple Grade 1 winner Carl Spackler will return to the U.S. to begin his stud career, a representative for his international ownership revealed Monday night at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall selected mixed sale.

Paul Curran signed the $5 million ticket for Broodmare of the Year Puca in the name of Raging Torrent Syndicate. Curran then said that Ace Stud, which is a stallion brand affiliated with the international Yulong Investments, is purchasing mares at the major Kentucky sales this week to support its new holdings in the U.S.

"We're trying to support our two new stallions who have just retired to stud at Lane's End, that's Raging Torrent and Carl Spackler," Curran said.

Zhang Yuesheng of Yulong privately purchased Carl Spackler earlier this year, and also co-owned Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap winner Raging Torrent. While Raging Torrent was retired to Lane's End in July, the farm had not yet made an announcement about Carl Spackler.

"He hasn't been announced yet, but there you go, he's announced," Curran laughed. "He's coming back."

A little less than an hour after Curran signed the ticket on Puca, Lane's End did, in fact, issue a release on the stallion's arrival.

"Carl Spackler had such an impressive turn of foot, consistently performing at an elite level, and with his sireline he brings exciting diversity to the Lane’s End roster," farm principal Bill Farish said in the release.

Yuesheng privately purchased Carl Spackler earlier this year from e Five Racing Thoroughbreds. He had won seven stakes in the U.S., including the Grade 1 Fourstardave and Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile last year, and the Grade 1 Maker's Mark Mile to start this season. He went unplaced in three Group 1 stakes in England following his sale.

"It didn't work out, but he's got a phenomenal race record here in America," Curran said. "So it made sense that we bring him back here and retire him here."

Ace Stud launched this year by rebranding the former Dullingham Park Stud in Newmarket, England, which stand Yulong stallions Shaquille and Soldier's Call. The mission is now to support the Kentucky newcomers.

"That's why we're here," Curran said. "We're here to try to get some elite broodmares in to our new boys. It's important that we support them."

While Puca will likely eventually visit an Ace Stud stallion, that's not yet guaranteed for her 2026 mating. The mare, dam of classic winners Mage and Dornoch and Grade 1 winner Baeza, did not sell in foal.

"We're gonna have a discussion about that," Curran said. "Let's digest what just happened."

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