Colloquial, a stakes-winning son of leading third-crop sire Vekoma , has been retired from racing and will enter stud next year at Airdrie Stud. He will stand for an initial fee of $7,500.
Racing for Harrell Ventures and Starlight Racing, Colloquial in his final start, won the 2025 Lafayette Stakes at Keeneland in front-running fashion by 2 1/4 lengths and earned an Equibase Speed Figure of 110 for his performance.
Trainer George Weaver had a top contender heading into the Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) in what would have been Colloquial's next start, but the colt got scratched a few days ahead of the race because Weaver was unhappy with the way he was moving. Diagnosed with the start of a condylar fracture, Colloquial was sidelined for several months. Multiple times he neared a return only to suffer a setback just before returning to the starting gate.
As the breeding season neared, the decision was made to retire the colt to give him the best opportunity at stud. Weaver said it was unfortunate Colloquial never got to display the graded-stakes-level talent he possessed.
"We've never trained a more talented horse than Colloquial. He never won a grade 1, but that's only because he never got the chance to try," Weaver said.
Beau Lane Bloodstock's Michael and J. B. Orem bred Colloquial out of the winning Bernardini daughter Terminology, who is a half sister to graded-placed stakes winner Stormin Monarcho and 10 other winners. Terminology's second dam is 1995 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Gal in a Ruckus, who also won the Canadian Oaks. The immediate family also produced four-time grade 1 winner Habibti and New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas (G1) winner Clean Sweep. Beau Lane Bloodstock sold Colloquial for $240,000 during Book 1 of the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale to Corbin Blumberg, racing manager for Starlight Racing.
"I've had my hands on some good ones over the years, but I've never been around a horse with more true brilliance than Colloquial," said Beau Lane. "That brilliance is what separates the fast ones from the great ones."
Colloquial turned heads in his racing debut at 2 when he finished second by a nose behind Mentee, who set an Aqueduct Racetrack track record for 5 furlongs in :56.97. Finishing behind Colloquial that day was T Kraft, who would go on to win this year's Vosburgh Stakes (G3) and run second in the Forego Stakes (G1). Mentee went on to win the Futurity Stakes (G3T).
In his second start, Colloquial won his 3-year-old debut by 7 lengths at Aqueduct in 1:16.4 for 6 1/2 furlongs and earned a 96 ESF and 106 Beyer Speed Figure. He also earned a 3 3/4 Ragozin figure, achieved in February of his sophomore season, that would trail only Sovereignty's 3 1/2 figure among the top grade 1-winning 3-year-old colts of 2025. In the Lafayette Stakes at 7 furlongs, he pressed the pace early in an opening :22.62 and then kept the momentum rolling through a half in :44.96. His 110 ESF would be higher than any ratings seen throughout the Triple Crown races.
Airdrie's Bret Jones said Colloquial's talent on the track shows he deserves every opportunity to become a successful stallion.
"Anyone who was ever around him genuinely believes he was a very special horse. We think that is incredibly meaningful," Jones said. "Combine that level of talent with being a beautifully made Book 1 horse by Vekoma, out of a Bernardini mare and from Smart Strike's female family, and we believe that gives him an exceptionally high ceiling that is very worthy of investment. We are committed to giving him absolutely every chance through our broodmare band and a strong syndicate that will be equally supportive. He deserves the chance he's going to receive, and we're convinced he will reward all of us for it."
