SMART sprinter The Antarctic, an own-brother to three-time champion sprinter Battaash, has been retired from racing and will stand under the Coolmore banner at Castlehyde Stud next season.

“He’s fast, a very good-looking individual and his own-brother Battaash is probably the best five-furlong sprinter of recent times,” said Castlehyde’s Paddy Fleming. “On a mark of 113 as a two-year-old, the Antarctic was rated the equal of Havana Grey – who is out of a Dark Angel mare – and just a pound below his own sire Dark Angel.”

“We always said Battaash was the best-looking horse that we’d bred but I think this guy is better, no doubt about it,” said his breeder Paul McCartan of Ballyphilip Stud after The Antarctic was purchased by M.V. Magnier as a yearling for 750,000gns.

In all The Antarctic won four races over five and six furlongs including the Group 3 Prix de Cabourg at two years and the Group 3 Lacken Stakes at three. The latter was also won by Castlehyde’s up-and-coming sire sensation Sioux Nation who has an impressive seven new Group winners to his credit this year.

The Antarctic was also runner-up to Cartier Champion 2YO Blackbeard in both the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes and the Group 2 Prix Robert Papin and third behind the same stablemate in the Group 1 Prix Morny.

A fee will be announced shortly.