Cairo Prince Retired, to Airdrie Stud in 2015
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Cairo Prince , the early spring favorite for this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum Brands (gr. I), has been retired from racing and will stand in 2015 at Airdrie Stud near Midway, Ky. under a partnership deal with Darley.
Cairo Prince will stand his first season in 2015 for a fee of $10,000, stands and nurses.
The colt from the first crop of Pioneerof the Nile out of Holy Bubbette, by Holy Bull, finished fourth in the Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I) March 29 at Gulfstream Park in what was to be his final career start. He was subsequently found to have suffered an injury that cut short his career.
Overall, Cairo Prince has a 3-1-0 career line from five starts and $562,000 in earnings.
The Florida Derby followed Cairo Prince's 5 3/4-length win in the Holy Bull Stakes (gr. II) in January in his season debut. After the Holy Bull, the Maktoum family's Godolphin purchased a majority interest in the colt from owners Namcook Stables, Paul Braverman, Harvey Clarke, and Craig Robertson.
During his 2-year-old campaign, Cairo Prince won his first two races by open lengths, including an emphatic score in the Nashua Stakes (gr. II) before finishing a nose short of the highly regarded Honor Code in the Remsen Stakes (gr. II). The stretch duel in the Remsen would go down as one of 2013's most memorable races.
Cairo Prince will be the first son of the emerging sire star Pioneerof the Nile to stand at stud. A grade I winner and leading 3-year-old himself, Pioneerof the Nile currently sits atop second-crop sire list in the United States.
Cairo Prince is out multiple stakes winner Holy Bubbette, who was graded stakes-placed. She also the dam of Nonna Mia (by Ghostzapper ), who was third in the 2009 Frizette Stakes (gr. I), and Holdin Bullets (by Empire Maker), third in the 2011 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint.
"This is a horse that was an absolute top 2-year-old and then showed the 3-year-old brilliance to be the favorite for the Kentucky Derby," said Airdrie Stud owner Brereton Jones said of Cairo Prince. "He's also an absolutely gorgeous individual by one of the hottest young stallions in America. Everything is in place for him to be a top stallion and the commitment that Airdrie and Darley have made to the horse will help get him there."
Cairo Prince was bred in Kentucky by Richard L. and Katherine Elam. He was a $200,000 short yearling at the 2012 Keeneland January sale, going to Vinery Bloodstock and Whisper Hill Farm from St George Sales, agent. Offered by Vinery Sales, agent, at that year's Keeneland September yearling sale, agent Steve Shahinian purchased him for $250,000 for Namcook Stables (Terry Murray).