Klimt Acquired by the Jockey Club of Turkey

The migration of U.S. stallions to Turkey continues with freshman sire Klimt   joining a Jockey Club of Turkey roster that includes four others that previously stood in the States.

Klimt is a grade 1-winning son of Quality Road   that won three of eight starts, including victories in the Del Mar Futurity and Best Pal Stakes (G2) in 2016. Bred by Thor-Bred Stables and raced by Kaleem Shah, Klimt also was runner-up in the 2016 FrontRunner Stakes (G1) and 2017 Los Alamitos Derby (G3). He retired with $468,960 in earnings.

Darby Dan Farm launched Klimt's stallion career at $10,000. As a freshman sire, Klimt has been represented by 22 winners and five stakes performers. He ranks sixth in his sire class by progeny earnings with $1,148,443.

The deal with the Jockey Club of Turkey, brokered by Jamie LaMonica and Brendan Heeney, puts Klimt alongside expatriates Battleground , Bodemeister  , Lion Heart , and Super Saver  .

Turkish owner/breeder Arif Kurtel also has added to his stallion barn by acquiring Sadler's Joy  and War Correspondent  back in September. Other previous acquisitions include Avery Island , Tizway , and Air Vice Marshal .

Victory Gallop , who denied Real Quiet the Triple Crown in the 1998 Belmont Stakes (G1), is Turkey's all-time leading sire by progeny earnings at 148,739,817 lira (US$10,886,500). He is the sire of Call to Victory, who won the 2020 Gazi Derby (G1) and this year's Fatih Sultan Mehmet Stakes (G1) and International Topkapi Trophy (G2).