Soldier’s Call, one of this year’s leading first-season sires in Europe, will relocate from Ballyhane Stud in Ireland to join top sprinter Shaquille at Dullingham Park for the 2024 season.
In his debut season, Shaquille will stand for £15,000, while Soldier’s Call’s fee for his first season in England will be £8,500.
A first Royal Ascot winner for his owner Steve Parkin and trainer Archie Watson, Soldier’s Call was the fastest colt of his generation, winning the Windsor Castle Stakes on his third start before going on to land the Group 3 Prix d’Arenberg and Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes in his eight-race debut season.
He was also beaten by just a neck in a scintillating run against his elders when third in the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye. Returning at three, Soldier’s Call ran consistently at the highest level, finishing third in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes and runner-up to Battaash in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes.
He has made a tremendous start to his stud career, with his 25 individual winners to date placing him third in the table of European first-season sires. His four blacktype performers include the Group 3 Prix Eclipse winner Dawn Charger, who was also a close second in the Group 2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte, and the 100-rated Dorothy Lawrence, who was a short-head second in the Group 3 Dick Poole Fillies’ Stakes.
Steve Parkin, owner of Dullingham Park, said: “Soldier’s Call is obviously very close to my heart. He gave us so many great days on the racecourse, and we couldn’t be happier with the start that he has made at Ballyhane Stud, thanks to the support of the breeders in Ireland. He is siring plenty of fast two-year-olds very much in his image, and we look forward to bringing him to England to bolster our roster alongside the hugely exciting dual Group 1 winner Shaquille.”
Joe Foley, owner of Ballyhane Stud and director of operations at Dullingham Park, commented: "We’re all delighted with the fast start that Soldier’s Call has made. He’s proven himself to be a talented stallion and I’m sure he’ll be a great success in Dullingham Park.”