‘A brilliant two-year-old with an amazing turn of foot that sets him apart from the others,’ its Vandeek who arrives in the Hunter Valley to stand at Arrowfield Stud for 2025.
“A wonderful temperament, he such a great pleasure to train, and his Middle Park victory was sensational as don’t think I’ve seen a better winner of the race,” said Simon Crisford.
Said to be ‘a pure ball of speed’ by jockey Jamese Doyle, Vandeek claimed the Gr1 Middle Park Stakes of 6f at Newmarket, and on good to soft going in a time of in 1-10.76s won by 2¼ lengths.
Racing in the trailing group of the 9 runners from barrier rise, Vandeek made ground at the 2 furlongs, and haven taken the lead 1 furlong out he began to stride away for an impressive victory.
Earlier defeating the best of France, England and Ireland in the Gr1 Prix Morney of 1200m at Deauville, Vandeek was named French Champion 2YO Colt in 2023 for trainers Simon and Ed Crisford.
Again, racing behind the speed after being checked at the start, he picked up to chase down the favourite and future Group 1 winner Ramatuelle, to win by neck in 1-09.84s on heavy ground.
Previously an impressive winner of the Gr2 Richmond Stakes of 6f, it was Andrea Atzeni again who has ridden Vandeek in his start, to win again over 6 furlongs in a Nottingham 2yo maiden.
Returning as a 3yo, he finished third in the Gr2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock Park, and beating two Group 1 winners when third in the Gr1 July Cup he was retired with a minor injury.
With his 450,000Gns Starspanglebanner half-brother Gstaad winning the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, Vandeek was a 625,000 Gns 2023 Tattersalls Breeze Up top-lot for KHK Racing.
As Vandeek is the best performer of his European top-line sire Havana Grey, a 1000 metre sprint specialist with 22 stakes winners, he’s Europe’s Leading First, Second and Third Season Sire.
Bred by Kelly Thomas of Maywood Stud in Wales, he is from the placed Exceed And Excel mare Mosa Mine, and with Gsteed being sired by Starspangledbanner, he is in-bred 4×3 to Danehill.
As the family of Widden Stud’s top shuttle sire Anabaa, the Gr1 winner of July Cup and sire of the great Goldikova, Anabaa Blue, he’s half-brother to Always Loyal, from Gr1 mare Balbonella.
And there is no passing the recent death of Arrowfield’s own ‘Snitzel, who for almost two decades had one of the most exceptional stallion careers in Australian thoroughbred breeding history.’
Known for his soundness and vitality, Snitzel was a reliable and stoic presence who shaped the daily rhythm of life at the farm and anchored many careers,’ said Arrowfield Stud.
‘Snitzel, a son of Redoute’s Choice and grandson of Danehill, was a Group 1-winning sprinter on the track and became an era-defining sire at stud, having joined the Arrowfield roster in 2006.’
‘His trajectory was marked by consistent excellence and broad influence, and went onto to sire 160 stakes winners, including multiple Group 1 champions to mark the national breeding landscape.’
‘Snitzel dominated the Australian sire rankings across sprinters and stayers, and his ability to upgrade his mares made him one of the most valuable and reliable stallions of the modern era.’
‘His sons and daughters have carried his qualities forward and are already proving themselves in the breeding shed, ensuring that his legacy will continue.’
‘Like his sire Redoute’s Choice and grandsire Danehill, Snitzel became a cornerstone not only of Arrowfield’s breeding program, but of the broader Australian thoroughbred industry.’
