2025 Cartier Champion Two-Year-Old and the record-breaking Irish 2,000 Guineas winner this year, Gstaad has been retired to stand at Coolmore in Ireland for the 2027 season.
An extraordinarily tough, consistent, and high-class performer throughout his career, the son of Starspangledbanner broke his maiden on debut in May, beating subsequent European Champion two-year-old and Classic winner True Love, before going straight to Royal Ascot to win the Coventry Stakes by three lengths. He never finished out of the first two in six starts as a two-year-old, denied by just a short neck in the Prix Morny, a head in the National Stakes, and less than a length in the Dewhurst, before traveling to Del Mar to cap his season with a brilliant victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. His consistency and class rightfully earned him Cartier Champion Two-Year-Old honours.
At three, Gstaad returned to finish second to Bow Echo in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket before claiming Classic glory in the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh. Becoming the fastest winner of the race ever, he broke a track record that had stood for 28 years, clocking a quicker time than Dubawi, Kingman, Gleneagles, Rosallion, and Field of Gold. He continued to demonstrate tremendous toughness and class at the highest level throughout the summer, finishing second to Bow Echo by just a short head in the St James’s Palace Stakes and half a length in the Sussex Stakes, before placing in the Prix du Moulin.
From a brilliant and fast family of champions, Gstaad is out of the Exceed And Excel mare Mosa Mine and is a half-brother to Champion Two-Year-Old Vandeek, winner of the Middle Park and Prix Morny. It is also the family of European Champion Sprinter Anabaa, the sire of Goldikova and dam sire of Treve and Bayside Boy.
"Gstaad was a remarkably tough and genuine racehorse who danced every dance at the highest level for two solid seasons," said Coolmore's Mark Byrne.
"To win a Coventry and a Breeders' Cup at two, and then come back to win the Irish 2,000 Guineas in record time shows incredible constitution and class. He is a smashing physical - a great-looking, athletic horse with a very good walk who was the most expensive colt at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale in 2023. Starspangledbanner is a top-class, proven sire who has enjoyed another fantastic year, and his stock have precocity, speed, and the scope to train on into Classic winners. We are absolutely delighted to welcome his most accomplished son to the roster.”
