Nadal to Enter Stud in Japan at Shadai

Shadai Stallion Station ended months of speculation with its announcement Oct. 14 that it has acquired and will stand undefeated multiple graded stakes winner Nadal.

The 3-year-old son of Blame  was raced by the partnership of George Bolton, Arthur Hoyeau, Barry Lipman, and Mark Mathiesen, who acquired the horse through Kerri Radcliffe Bloodstock as a 2-year-old. Radcliffe bought the colt for $700,000 at The Gulfstream Sale, Fasig-Tipton's 2-year-olds in training sale, from consignor Randy Bradshaw.

An injury prevented Nadal from racing at 2, so he made his debut Jan. 19 as a sophomore at Santa Anita Park, where he won a maiden special weight by 3 3/4 lengths. Trainer Bob Baffert immediately challenged the colt next in graded stakes company, and he responded with consecutive wins in the San Vicente Stakes (G2), Rebel Stakes (G2), and Arkansas Derby (G1), the latter by three lengths.

His string of successes put Nadal atop the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 150 points for a period of time, but his Derby plans were derailed by a left front lateral condylar fracture that required surgery. This year's Arkansas Derby was run May 2, the original date for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) before the turmoil from COVID-19 pushed the classic to Sept. 5. Baffert, still grateful the colt had won a grade 1, was left feeling under normal circumstances Nadal could have been a classic winner.

"The timing was perfect for him for the Derby. He was on a great schedule," Baffert said following the colt's injury. "It's just a shame with the Derby dreams. The window—he was right there."

Nadal was retired with $1,053,000 in earnings from four starts, and the stallion deal with Shadai was negotiated by John McCormack Bloodstock.

"We lost a great competitor in this year's 3-year-old crop," Bolton said. "I would have loved to have seen him compete against Tiz the Law. But now, I'm rooting for him, and the way the world is, we'll see some of his babies. This really is a positive outcome for a wild ride."

Sierra Farm bred Nadal in Kentucky out of its homebred mare Ascending Angel (by Pulpit). The farm bought Ascending Angel's dam, Solar Colony, a full sister to 2-year-old champion Pleasant Stage, for $310,000 at the 2008 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale from Lane's End's consignment. Ascending Angel is a half sister to graded-placed stakes winner Reform Act (by Lemon Drop Kid ), grade 1-placed stakes producer Soul Search (by A.P. Indy), and multiple stakes producer Lunar Colony (by A.P. Indy).

Nadal's third dam, Meteor Stage, is a half sister to grade 1 winners A Phenomenon and Seattle Meteor. Meteor Stage is also the dam of graded stakes winners Stage Colony and Colonial Play.

Nadal is settling in at Shadai, which is on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. His stud fee will be announced later.