Super Saver, Daredevil join caravan to Turkey

Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver and freshman sire Daredevil are the latest stallions heading overseas to Turkey, which has been bullish in the North American bloodstock market this fall. The two former WinStar Farm stallions have been acquired by the Turkish Jockey Club to stand overseas beginning with the 2020 breeding season, with a provision allowing for a return to the United States upon completion of their careers.

Super Saver, winner of the 2010 Kentucky Derby, is the sire of champion sprinter Runhappy and Grade 1 winners Competitive Edge and Embellish the Lace. Daredevil, winner of the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes, is the sire of stakes winner Deviant and Grade 2-placed Shedaresthedevil from his first crop.

Super Saver and Daredevil will join former WinStar stablemate Bodemeister, a Grade 1 winner who sired Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming from his first crop, in Turkey. The trio represent a handful of the stallions relocating there for 2020, also including Group 2-placed Air Vice Marshal, successful regional sire Bluegrass Cat, multiple Grade 1 winner Tizway, and multiple graded winner Trappe Shot. In addition to private stallion acquisitions, Turkish interests also were active at public auction in North America this fall to bolster their breeding operations. Catapult, a multiple Grade 2-winning millionaire who was second in the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Mile, also is headed overseas after being purchased for $50,000 by prominent Turkish owner and breeder Arif Kurtel at the Keeneland November breeding stock sale. He was extremely active buying mares to support his new stallion, landing a total of 59 horses.

“The Turkish Jockey Club has done extremely well with [former WinStar stallion] Victory Gallop, who is the leading sire in Turkey, and has made a concerted effort to improve their stallion roster this year,” WinStar executive Elliott Walden said in a press release. “We look forward to following their careers in Turkey.”