Cockney Rebel relocates to France for stud duty

Cockney Rebel, winner of both the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas in 2007, has relocated to Haras de Saint Arnoult in Exmes, France, where he will stand for the 2014 breeding season, Racing Post reports. The 9-year-old son of Val Royal previously stood at the National Stud in Newmarket.

Named after a popular 1970s English glam rock band, Cockney Rebel won his first career start at 2 and placed in his next two starts, including a third in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes. He returned at 3 and scored back-to-back wins in the English and Irish Guineas, but broke his pelvis in the St. James’s Palace Stakes and was retired in early fall after suffering another injury while training. He won three of six starts and earned $885,544.

From 116 foals of racing age, Cockney Rebel has 41 winners and total progeny earnings of $503,226 through June 30. The stallion, who is out of the winning Known Fact mare Factice, stood the 2013 season at National Stud for 2,500 pounds, or about $3,800.