Hampton Court records first winner

In this year’s highly anticipated class of freshman sires, Spendthrift shuttle stallion Hampton Court was the first off the mark with a winner, as he looks to continue the legacy of his recently deceased sire Redoute’s Choice.

Hampton Court’s daughter Miss Merida recently won on debut in Mexico. Miss Merida, who is out of the stakes-winning Stormy Atlantic mare Madrilena, was bred in Kentucky by Spendthift, and was a $1,500 purchase by Enrique Cantarell at the Keeneland September yearling sale. Hampton Court will be represented by his first U.S. starter – and third starter overall – on Friday when his Kolten’s Court runs in a maiden special weight at Keeneland.

Hampton Court is from the family of three-time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva. A Group 1-winning juvenile, Hampton Court is based at Spendthrift’s Australian farm, but shuttled to stand in Kentucky in 2016 and 2017. He covered books of 56 mares and 26 mares in those seasons, according to The Jockey Club’s Report of Mares Bred.

Redoute’s Choice was euthanized on March 25 at Arrowfield Stud in Australia after suffering a “traumatic loss of mobility,” according to Arrowfield. The son of the legendary Danehill was 22.

“Redoute’s Choice is such a big part of all our lives, and right now it’s hard to imagine Arrowfield without him,” Arrowfield’s John Messara said in a release. “He has given us so much. Arrowfield has been built on his back, and he’s allowed all of us and many, many other people to fulfill our dreams and ambitions.”

A multiple Group 1 winner himself, Redoute’s Choice was a three-time leading sire in Australia. The sire of more than 30 Group 1 winners, he is also closing in on his first broodmare sire title. His sons at stud include Arrowfield resident Snitzel, also a leading sire.

Short season for Deep Impact

Leading Japanese sire Deep Impact will miss the rest of this breeding season, Shadai Stallion Station has confirmed to the Japanese media – and the stallion’s sons figure to be among those benefitting as owners now make alternate plans for the mares booked to him.

Deep Impact, a 17-year old son of the legendary Sunday Silence, has neck pain that is exacerbated by the physical exertion of covering mares. This led Shadai to suspend him for a brief rest in February, and then for the remainder of the breeding season when the symptoms did not subside. The farm told Japanese outlets that the issue is not life-threatening, and that the stallion is expected to continue his stud career next season

“Deep Impact has a pain in his neck during his daily exercise, but it is not life-threatening,” a stud spokesperson told the Japanese media. “We will protect him for the rest of the season to prevent his injury from becoming worse. The number of foals to be born next year is expected to be around 20. From now on, we’ll try to improve his physical condition for next year’s breeding season.”

Deep Impact was Japan’s leading freshman sire in 2010, and has gone on to lead the general sire standings every year since 2012. He has 11 sons at stud, including three among this year’s international freshman sires. Japanese Derby winner and champion Kizuna and Japanese and Australian Group 1 winner Real Impact both stand at Shadai, while Group 3 winner Vincennes stands at Lex Stud.