Declaration of War relocating to Ashford Stud

Declaration of War, a Group 1 winner in England, will stand at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Versailles, Ky., for the 2015 breeding season, for a fee to be announced at a later date.

The 5-year-old son of War Front stood his initial season at Coolmore’s headquarters in Co. Tipperary, Ireland, for an advertised fee of about $50,651 (40,000 Euros).

Declaration of War won seven of 13 starts during his racing career for breeder Joseph Allen, and for Coolmore, which bought into the horse after his 2-year-old campaign. He earned $1,847,489 over three seasons of racing, highlighted by wins in the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes and Queen Anne Stakes in England, as well as the Group 3 Diamond Stakes in Ireland.

For his career finale in 2013, Declaration of War shipped to the U.S. to compete in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, finishing third in his first start on dirt.

“Declaration of War has an incredibly similar profile to Giant’s Causeway who also joined us after standing a single season in Ireland,” said Ashford manager Dermot Ryan. “Both were unbeaten at 2, both won some of Britain’s key Group 1 races over a mile and a mile and a quarter and both ran incredible races on their first starts on traditional dirt in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. And then of course they’re both by top sires out of daughters of Rahy from great American families. Bred by Joe Allen in whose colors he ran, Declaration of War was one of the best yearlings ever raised here on the farm and we’re delighted to be getting him back.”

Declaration of War is out of the winning Rahy mare Tempo West, whose six winners from as many foals to race also include U.S. Grade 2-placed French stakes winner Vertiformer and French stakes-placed War Pact. Tempo West is a half sister to Belmont Stakes winner and young stallion Union Rags.