Golden Slipper Winner Farnan Retired to Kia Ora Stud

The 2020 Longines Golden Slipper Stakes (G1) winner and last season's champion 2-year-old Farnan (AUS) has been retired to Kia Ora Stud after an array of setbacks that resulted in a decision to end his proposed farewell campaign before it had even begun. Kia Ora made a major statement last August by acquiring Farnan, arguably the country's most valuable colt, by entering into a deal with Aquis Farm and Phoenix Thoroughbreds as the renowned Hunter Valley farm set about re-entering the stallion business after a long absence. Almost 12 months to the day since Farnan's Slipper triumph, stud manager Shane Wright confirmed the Gai Waterhouse- and Adrian Bott-trained colt would arrive from the trainers' Randwick stables to Kia Ora's Scone property in the coming days to let down ahead of the 2021 breeding season, which begins Sept. 1. "He was the dominant 2 year-old of his generation, he won the Golden Slipper and it's an extremely good sire-making race in Australia," Wright told ANZ Bloodstock News when citing the deeds of previous Slipper winners and champion juveniles Pierro (AUS) and, more recently, Capitalist (AUS). "He definitely brought that form back as a 3-year-old with everything he did at home and his trials proved that. "He had incredible cruising speed and a turn of foot off that, which is what good sires in Australia have." Farnan won his first start by 4 3/4 lengths at Canberra in November 2019 of his 2-year-old season before taking out the Magic Millions Wyong 2yo Classic the following month. He was beaten in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic at the Gold Coast last January, but returned to Sydney to win the Inglis Silver Slipper Stakes (G2), the UNSW Todman Stakes (G2) and, of course, the Golden Slipper. He was subsequently crowned champion 2-year-old. When returning as a 3-year-old he was unplaced in the De Bortoli Wines Run To The Rose Stakes (G2) and the Coolmore Stud Stakes (G1), his only two runs in a stop-start spring, while he had won two barrier trials this preparation before again being struck down by injuries. "Niggling problems have interrupted our progress towards his big autumn targets, which were the group 1 Galaxy and T J Smith, with a possible tilt at a Royal Ascot campaign," said Bott. "Unfortunately, we have now run out of time. Farnan's record as a 2-year-old speaks for itself and his work at home and at the trials this preparation shows that he has retained all of his superior speed as a 3-year-old. "Gai and I are certain he will be a huge success at stud, and we look forward to supporting his progeny in due course." Bred by Phoenix, who retained a share in him when sold at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Vinery Stud to Aquis Farm for $550,000, Farnan is out of the group-winning, Magic Millions 3yo Trophy runner-up Tallow (AUS). Bought by David Lucas on behalf of Phoenix for $250,000 at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale when in foal to Not A Single Doubt (AUS), the resulting foal producing Farnan, Tallow has had three foals to race and all are winners, including the Slipper winner's three quarter brother, dual listed winner Sandbar. "He's by Not A Single Doubt and through Extreme Choice, off limited numbers, he has proven that the Not A Single Doubt sire line is a pretty dominant line and he's out of a Street Cry mare," he said. "He is the most beautiful type. He has excellent conformation, a beautiful presence about him and has a great head. He's a stallion who, when you see him in the flesh, has the 'wow' factor."