Peintre Celebre pensioned from stud duty in Ireland

Peintre Celebre, the broodmare sire of the top two finishers in Tuesday’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup, has been pensioned from stallion duty at Coolmore’s Castlehyde Stud in Ireland.

The 20-year-old son of Nureyev has sired 14 crops of racing age, with 584 winners and 40 graded/group stakes winners, and combined progeny earnings of over $54 million. Prior to his stallion career, he was named Europe’s Horse of the Year in 1997 on the strength of a campaign that included a victory in the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Peintre Celebre’s leading runners include Hong Kong champions Collection and Berouni, as well as Group 1 winners Pride, Byword, Dai Jin, Pearl of Love, Salford Mill, Valee Enchantee, Bentley Biscuit, Sudan, Mr Sandgroper, Mr Celebrity, Belle Et Celebre, and Jam Alley. His best U.S. runner was 2004 Santa Anita Derby winner Castledale.

Protectionist, winner of the 2014 Melbourne Cup, is out of the unraced mare Patineuse, while runner-up Red Cadeaux is out of the placed Artisia.

“Peintre Celebre has been a wonderful sire over the years and he'll see out his retirement here at Castlehyde," stud manager Joe Hernon told Racing Post. "However, it's time for a younger horse to take his place on the roster and we're delighted to welcome Galileo's son Kingsbarns for 2015.”

Kingsbarns, a 4-year-old bred in Ireland, won the 2012 Group 1 Racing Post Trophy in England and earned over $455,000 in three seasons.