A brilliant winner of the 2024 Group I ATC Doncaster Mile and Randwick Guineas, high class Dundeel stallion Celestial Legend will be heading south to go to stud at Woodside Park in Victoria.
Retired by his owner Bon Ho following his unplaced run in this year’s Group I ATC George Ryder Stakes, Woodside quickly swooped to purchase 50 per cent of this most appealing stallion prospect and he will stand at an introductory fee of $27,500 inc. GST.
Trained throughout his career by Les Bridge, Celestial Legend was a winner over 1200m at his second start at two and then blossomed at three to become the star three year-old colt of the Sydney autumn Carnival winning the Group II ATC Hobartville Stakes (1400m), Group I ATC Randwick Guineas (1600m) and Doncaster Mile (1600m) in succession.
“Woodside is a magnificent place so Celestial Legend has found a really good home and I’m sure he will be very happy here,” Bon Ho said.
“I’ve been a horse owner for over ten years in Australia and together with Classique Legend, Celestial Legend is definitely one of the top two horses I’ve ever owned. I particularly liked him because of his temperament, and he obviously looks magnificent. I’ve always loved him and he never failed to amaze me when we took him to the races.
“His turn of foot was amazing, and the way he went past other horses and the excitement he gave all of us is unforgettable. I will always remember him as one of my favourite racehorses, and I’m sure he’s going to become a very good stallion for at least the next ten years.
“It’s a new venture for me and it’s a new page of life for Celestial Legend. Because I was so lucky to own a horse like him, it’s only natural that I would want him to become a stallion. Hopefully with the mares I have, we can produce some exciting horses for Woodside.”
“Celestial Legend is a rare package of brilliance and toughness,” said Eddie Hirsch, Principal of Woodside Park. “We’ve searched far and wide for a stallion of this calibre, and we’re thrilled to be partnering with Mr Ho to offer breeders such an exciting prospect here in Victoria.”
Celestial Legend retired with four wins and two seconds from 13 starts with prizemoney of $3.4million and will seek to emulate the success of Dundeel stallions Super Seth and Castlelvecchio.
They were both elite Group I winning three year-olds and have both now produced Group I winners of their own this season - Super Seth siring Feroce and Linebacker, plus Kiwi trained 2YO filly La Dorada, while Castelvecchio has sired Australian Derby winner filly Aeliana and El Castello.
Celestial Legend was bred and sold by Arrowfield as was Super Seth and is from unraced Snitzel mare Sarraqa, a three-quarter sister to South African Group I winners Rafeef and Mustaaqeem from Champion South African Sprinter National Colour.
He joins shuttle stallion Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi), who returns from Japan for a second season for an unchanged fee of $22,000, Group I producing sires Shalaa (IRE) (Invincible Spirit), Vancouver (Medaglia D’Oro) and Foxwedge (Fastnet Rock) along with Rich Enuff (Written Tycoon) and Delaware (GB ) (Frankel) at this picturesque Victorian farm.
The fees for Shalaa ($19,800), Rich Enuff ($13,200) and Delaware ($7,700) remain at their 2024 levels, while both Vancouver and Foxwedge have been reduced to $8,800 from their previous mark of $9,900.
