Gio Ponti to shuttle to Arrowfield Stud in Australia

Glenye Cain Oakford

Gio Ponti, a three-time Eclipse Award winner now in his first year at stud, will shuttle from Castleton Lyons in Kentucky to Australia’s Arrowfield Stud for the Southern Hemisphere breeding season, the farms announced Thursday.

Gio Ponti stands for $20,000 at Castleton Lyons in Lexington, Ky. Arrowfield hasn’t yet announced an Australian fee for the 7-year-old Tale of the Cat horse.

Gio Ponti earned more than $6.1 million and was North America’s champion grass horse in 2009 and 2010. He also received the Eclipse Award as champion older horse in 2009.

“His athleticism, good looks, and Tale of the Cat’s proven compatibility with Australasian bloodlines make him a very exciting addition to our roster,” Arrowfield owner John Messara said.