CLASSIC star and phenomenal stallion Sadler’s Wells (Northern Dancer) had a profound influence at stud, and the late Coolmore colossus has several branches of varying strength.
Many of his sons excelled as National Hunt sires, in addition to plenty who achieved fame on the flat, while some of his lines have fared best abroad – the El Prado one in North America is a notable example. Galileo has rewritten records as a flat sire, has supplied us with sons such as Teofilo, New Approach and newly crowned champion sire Frankel, among others.
His and his descendants’ success in the National Hunt sector pales in comparison to that of Montjeu. He too was an outstanding source of classic horses on the flat and some of his sons have done well as flat sires, but this branch is emerging as a force in National Hunt circles too.
Then there’s High Chaparral, the late dual Derby and dual Breeders’ Cup hero with a string of sons who have at least one Group 1-winner of their own, and while much of that success has come in the southern hemisphere, Toronado is growing his profile north of the Equator.
Two of the Haras de Bonneval stallion’s three Group 1 stars have been in Australia, but the third is the French-born Tribhuvan and his Goodwood Group 3 scorer Toro Strike could be one to note on the US Turf scene in 2022.
Free Eagle, who stands at the Irish National Stud, had Group 3 scorer Dancing King last year, but Khalifa Sat is his most high-profile son, a stakes winner who finished runner-up in the Group 1 Derby at Epsom. Several of his early runners have won over obstacles, and that’s to be expected. Most flat sires will get plenty of winners under National Hunt rules.
High Chaparral, the grandsire of Khalifa Sat, gave us a string of prolific and sometimes highly-rated jumpers, none better than the brilliant seven-figure earner and multiple Grade 1 star Altior.
Being a classic-placed representative of this male line makes Khalifa Sat an intriguing prospect and he looks sure to attract plenty of attention in his new role.
He won his maiden over 10 furlongs on soft ground at Goodwood as a two-year-old, added listed success over a furlong farther at the same venue the following June and then chased home Serpentine at Epsom, finishing half a length and a nose in front of Amhran Na Bhfiann and the non-staying Kameko, with Mogul and Russian Emperor close behind.
Khalifa Sat’s multiple-placed dam Thermopylae (Tenby) is also responsible for Unsung Heroine (High Chaparral), a lightly-raced Group 3 Give Thanks Stakes winner whose only defeats came when runner-up to Conduit in the Group 1 St Leger and to Crystal Capalla in the Group 2 Pride Stakes. The mare’s Group 1-winning half-brother Posidonas (Slip Anchor) sired winners under both codes from limited opportunities, and she is out of a half-sister to Group 1 star Ile De Chypre (Ile De Bourbon).
KHALIFA SAT (IRE), Bay 2017. Won two races, £136,267, 1¼ miles to 1 mile 3 furlongs, at 2 and 3 years including, Cocked Hat Stakes, Goodwood, L, also placed second in Derby Stakes, Epsom Downs, Gr.1.
Retires to Stud in 2022.
Stands at: Lacken Stud, Bunclody, Co Wexford, Y21 NR59, Ireland.
Contact: Paul Rothwell
Telephone: +353 (0)53 9367075
Email: lackenstud@yahoo.com
Fee: €2,000