Blue Point to Kildangan Stud Next Year
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Photo: Edward Whitaker/Racing Post
Champion sprinter Blue Point is paraded July 11 at the Darley stallion parade at Dalham Hall Stud
Blue Point, who was retired last month after taking Royal Ascot by storm with two group 1 sprint victories, is to commence his stallion career at Darley's Kildangan Stud in County Kildare next year.
It had initially been stated that the son of Shamardal would stand at the operation's Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket, but it was confirmed at Darley's annual stallion parade July 11 that he will in fact take up covering duty alongside his sire in Ireland rather than in Britain.
Blue Point, who showed off his looks to breeders at the event, rates as one of the most exciting new recruits to the stallion ranks in years, having shown top-class form over four consecutive seasons.
Trained by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin, he won the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Gimcrack Stakes (G2) and was second in the Qatar Richmond Stakes (G2) and Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes (G1) at 2, when he was also a very respectable third to Churchill in the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes (G1).
At 3, he landed the Merriebelle Stable Pavilion Stakes (G3) and John Guest Bengough Stakes (G3) and was third to Caravaggio and Harry Angel in a thrilling Commonwealth Cup (G1), and at 4 he beat Battaash to take the King's Stand Stakes (G1) and ran third in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (G1).
He was unbeaten this season at 5, scoring in three contests at Meydan and completing the rarely achieved King's Stand and Diamond Jubilee Stakes (G1) double at the royal meeting.
Blue Point also boasts a fine pedigree as one of 22 group/grade 1 winners by Shamardal, who is proving to be a strong influence. His son Lope De Vega is one of Europe's most in-demand sires, and sons Casamento and Mukhadram also show they are capable of throwing talented runners.
Bred by Oak Lodge Bloodstock, Blue Point is a half brother to Ladbrokes.com Railway Stakes (G2) winner Formosina out of Scarlett Rose, a Royal Applause half sister to the durable multiple group 3 winner Tumbleweed Ridge.
Blue Point is poised to join another son of Shamardal on the Kildangan Stud roster—French Navy, who stood at €4,000 this year—as well as a champion son of Lope De Vega in Belardo, who was advertised at €10,000.
It is fair to say that with his exceptional credentials, Blue Point will be assigned a considerably higher stud fee than those.