Group 1 Winner Earthlight Retired to Kildangan Stud
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Photo: Edward Whitaker/Racing Post
Earthlight edges Golden Horde to win the 2019 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket
Godolphin's top-class Earthlight has been retired following his second place in the Qatar Prix de la Foret (G1) earlier this month and will take up stallion duties at Darley's Kildangan Stud in Ireland.
Lisa-Jane Graffard, Godolphin's French representative, said: "Earthlight has been the most wonderful horse to be around. He was far superior to his rivals at 2, showing a decisive turn of foot in his two group 1 wins, while his demeanor was always one of calm self-assurance.
"He has been a wonderful flagbearer for Godolphin, from a family that has been nurtured for generations, by the late Shamardal and out of a New Approach mare. He showed class and courage in his races and will be a great asset to the Darley stallion roster."
The son of the late Shamardal was trained by Andre Fabre and completed an unbeaten juvenile campaign with victories in the Darley Prix Morny (G1) and Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes (G1), fending off this year's Commonwealth Cup (G1) scorer Golden Horde in the latter.
He ended the year as champion juvenile in France and joint-second in the European 2-year-old classifications behind the fellow Godolphin-owned Pinatubo, who will stand at Dalham Hall Stud for 2021.
Injury prevented Earthlight from pursuing a classic campaign in the first part of this season but he still won two of his four starts at 3, landing the listed Qatar Prix Kistena on his return and the Qatar Prix du Pin (G3) on his penultimate start at ParisLongchamp.
The Prix de la Foret, in which he finished a gallant second to three-time winner One Master, proved his final run.
Fabre said of Earthlight's qualities: "He had a wonderful temperament, he was an easy horse to train and to ride. He had a lot of natural speed and had a very good 2-year-old career.
"This year was a bit more here and there because he injured himself at the beginning of the season, twisting a fetlock. Then I ran him once the good races had passed but he still managed to show good ability."
A Godolphin homebred, Earthlight is the first foal out of the winning New Approach mare Winters Moon, who finished third in the Dubai Fillies' Mile (G1) behind Together Forever.
Winters Moon is a half sister to Montjeu Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (G1) scorer Wavering and Criterium de Saint-Cloud (G1) victor Mandaean. Her dam, Summertime Legacy, is out of a winning relative of Golden Fleece.