The Wow Signal Injured, Retired to Stud
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Sheikh Joaan's Al Shaqab Racing has retired French group I winner The Wow Signal and will stand him in Australia at Swettenham Stud during the upcoming Southern Hemisphere season.
A son of Starspangledbanner—Muravka, by High Chaparral, The Wow Signal suffered an injury while preparing for a Guineas campaign, Al Shaqab said on its Facebook page. The decision was made to retire him.
"It is always disappointing when a horse like this is prevented from reaching his full potential," Al Shaqab racing adviser Harry Herbert said. "His 2-year-old form has emerged as some of the best in the world and I have no doubt that he would have gone on to be an exceptional 3-year-old."
The Wow Signal won his first three of four career starts in succession, including the 2014 Darley Prix Morny (Fr-I), in which he defeated subsequent Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT) winner Hootenanny and this year's Prix d'Essai des Pouliches (Fr-I, French One Thousand Guineas) victress Ervedya. He also won the Coventry Stakes (Eng-II) at Royal Ascot. He was France's highweighted juvenile colt.
"He is a very tough horse with a great constitution and tremendous acceleration who ran well on all types of ground," trainer John Quinn said.
From Starspangledbanner's first crop, The Wow Signal was bred in Ireland by Mrs. Tommy Stack from the unraced Muravka, a half sister to multiple group-placed stakes winner Tolpuddle. Second dam Tabdea, by Topsider, is a half sister to 1996 French One Thouand Guineas winner Ta Rib.
After the conclusion of the Southern Hemisphere season at Swettenham Stud, where his fee has been set at AUS$15,000, The Wow Signal will join the Al Shaqab stallion roster at Haras de Bouquetot in Normandy, France for the 2016 Northern Hemisphere season. His stallion career will be guided by stud manager Benoit Jeffroy.