Second in last year’s Group I ATC Golden Slipper after winning the Group II ATC Silver Slipper, Best of Bordeaux has been retired from racing and will commence his stud career at Coolmore Australia in the spring.
After a battle with pneumonia in the summer, the decision was taken to retire the Kacy Fogden trained Best Of Bordeaux to stand alongside fellow Silver Slipper-winning two-year-olds, Pierro and Home Affairs.
A brilliantly fast and precocious son of Snitzel, who just sired his second Golden Slipper winner in Shinzo, Best of Bordeaux won the Group III Canonbury Stakes by more than 4 ½ lengths on debut, and only ever competed in Group races in each of his eight starts.
Leading to the turn, Best Of Bordeaux kicked clear in the Group I Golden Slipper Stakes, beating home subsequent Group I winners such as Coolangatta, Jacquinot and She’s Extreme when finishing a tough second to Fireburn, who backed up to win the Group I Sires Produce Stakes.
Best of Bordeaux was rewarded for his efforts when crowned Timeform’s highest-rated juvenile colt of his generation.
As a three-year-old, Best Of Bordeaux emulated successful sires Fastnet Rock, Zoustar, Exceed And Excel and Russian Revolution by convincingly winning the Group II ATC Roman Consul Stakes.
He then took on older horses when third in the Group I MVRC Manikato Stakes at WFA, beating home five individual Group 1 winners.
“Snitzel is one of the best stallions we have seen in Australia this century and already a successful sire of sires. Like his sire, Best Of Bordeaux was a natural, forward-running speed horse, faster and more accomplished at two than other effective sire sons of Snitzel such as Shamus Award and Russian Revolution,” said Coolmore Australia’s Tom Moore.
“Best Of Bordeaux has a wonderful group of leading breeders involved in his ownership, each of whom will support him with quality mares. He was bred by Gerry Harvey who remains in the ownership, and we feel that he is the perfect horse for breeders to target, with sales like the Magic Millions January yearling sale in mind.”
Best Of Bordeaux will stand at a fee of $27,500 (inc. GST).
