National Stud Signs Lancaster Bomber and Rajasinghe

Lancaster Bomber, last seen running his rivals off their feet while winning the Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1) by two lengths in May, has been retired to the National Stud in Newmarket.

The 4-year-old son of War Front  will stand at a fee of £8,500 (US$11,100), special live foal terms, with lifetime breeding rights also available.

Trained by Aidan O'Brien for Coolmore partners, Lancaster Bomber opened his account on second asking at 2 and went on to finish second in the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes (G1) and to fill the same position in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) that season.

In a busy 3-year-old season that took him around the world, he was a close fourth to Churchill in the QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (G1), second to Barney Roy in the St. James's Palace Stakes (G1), and also runner-up in both the Ricoh Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1T) and Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T).

This year at 4, he finished third to Rhododendron in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (G1) and put up a fantastic, frontrunning performance to land the Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1) from Cliffs of Moher and Defoe. The victory put his career earnings beyond £1 million ($1,422,743).

War Front is the source of 19 group/grade 1 winners in total, including European celebrities Air Force Blue , Declaration of War , and War Command, as well as Roly Poly and her brother U S Navy Flag, who took this season's Darley July Cup (G1) and is among the leading contenders for the lucrative TAB Everest (G1) in Australia Oct. 13.

He is emerging as a useful sire of sires, with Declaration of War's first crop yielding this season's Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains (G1) winner Olmedo and freshman War Command notching 20 2-year-old winners to date.

Lancaster Bomber has pedigree appeal on the distaff side, too. He is a half brother to miler Excelebration—sire of Barney Roy—and the durable group 3 winner Mull of Killough. His dam, Sun Shower, is by Indian Ridge out of a daughter of classic winner Sarah Siddons.

Coolmore's MV Magnier said: "Lancaster Bomber has always been held in very high regard by Aidan and the team at Ballydoyle. We've placed a lot of faith in his sire, War Front, and thankfully it is being rewarded. We've retained some breeding rights in Lancaster Bomber and feel his retirement to the National Stud in Newmarket affords him an excellent opportunity to make an impact as a stallion."

Rajasinghe, who holds the 2-year-old record for the fastest six furlongs at Ascot following his Coventry Stakes (G2) triumph last year, will stand alongside fellow retiree Lancaster Bomber at the National Stud next year.

The son of Choisir showed an impressive turn of foot to work his way from midpack to the front at the royal meeting and followed up that run with another game performance, finishing third to Cardsharp in the Arqana July Stakes (G2) at Newmarket.

"His win at Royal Ascot last year helped put us on the map," trainer Richard Spencer said. "It was a very special day and a fantastic performance to break the track record. To have a 2-year-old that posted a quicker time than the likes of Canford Cliffs and Dawn Approach in the race is very special, and I look forward to seeing his progeny in years to come."

Rajasinghe shares his sire with the likes of Olympic Glory and Starspangledbanner and was bred by James and Geoff Mulcahy out of the Soviet Star mare Bunditten, a daughter of dual listed-winning sprinter Felicita, whose granddam is the 1968 One Thousand Guineas heroine Caergwrle.

Tim Lane, stud director at the National Stud, added: "We're hugely excited. His record speaks for itself. He's a group 2-winning son of Choisir who broke the track record at Royal Ascot when winning the Coventry Stakes.

"Rajasinghe is a good-looking horse with an excellent walk, and he will be commercially attractive for breeders, which is proven by the recent success of the sire line at the yearling sales. With the support of Phil Cunningham and Rebel Racing, we believe Rajasinghe will be very successful."

Rajasinghe will stand at a fee of £5,000 ($6,500). A restricted number of lifetime breeding rights will also be sold.

Both Lancaster Bomber and Rajasinghe will be managed by the Avenue Bloodstock team of John Ferguson, Mark McStay, and Amy Lanigan.