The international Coolmore group suffered a huge loss when Scat Daddy, whose star was still very much on the rise at the time, died in December 2015 at just 11 following a cardiac event. But he left a legacy of outstanding sons at stud on both sides of the Atlantic, which is continuing to pay off for Coolmore's breeding and racing outfit.
That legacy showed up in the Breeders' Cup Friday races for 2-year-olds Oct. 30 at Keeneland.
Scat Daddy's penultimate crop included 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify , who was campaigned by WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, Starlight Racing, and Head of Plains Partners. Those owners then accepted a deal from Coolmore America to stand Justify there at its Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky.
Retired to Ashford Stud following that championship season, he has become a prominent sire internationally, and recorded his third Breeders' Cup winner when Haffner won the Oct. 30 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T). Earlier in the day, Sun Goddess, by Scat Daddy's son Sioux Nation, won her fourth grade/group 1 of the season in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T).
"Unbelievable that he's got that line again," Coolmore trainer Aidan O'Brien said after Haffner's win. "Like the filly (earlier), Sioux Nation, and he's by Justify, which is so exciting for us."
O'Brien also noted that Justify's current 2-year-olds are an exciting lot. They were conceived in the spring of 2023—after the stallion's first crop raced in 2022, and Coolmore liked what it saw.
"To have Justify, we've got a lot of (foals out of good mares) coming," O'Brien said. "This is the first year of 2-year-olds that the lads had him cover (a lot of) good mares. It makes it extra exciting."
Haffner was co-bred in Kentucky by the Coolmore-affiliated Justify Syndicate with D. J. Stable, which is also active throughout Breeders' Cup weekend. He was sold, essentially as a partnership buyout, for $375,000 at the 2025 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, and now races for Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, and Brook Smith.
Earlier in the day, the remarkable Sun Goddess won her fourth grade/group 1 of the season. She was bred in Ireland by Owenstown Bloodstock, and was a £120,000 ($161,739) purchase by Coolmore's M.V. Magnier at the 2025 Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale. She now races for Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith.
"In fairness to everyone that was in Doncaster at the time, like Paul Shanahan, she just stood out in the sale," M.V. Magnier said. "And well done to John Tuthill (of Owenstown) and everyone. It's a great result for them. They're great supporters, have been for a very long time. It's a life-changing experience for a lot of people when fillies like this come along."
O'Brien also trained Sioux Nation, who won the 2017 Phoenix Stakes (G1) and now stands at Coolmore's Irish headquarters. O'Brien noted that not only has Sun Goddess emulated her sire by winning the Phoenix this year, she has emulated her great-grandsire, Johannesburg, by winning on both sides of the Atlantic. Johannesburg, who sired Scat Daddy in his first crop, was O'Brien's first Breeders' Cup winner, taking the 2001 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1).
"Obviously, she's by Sioux Nation, who's probably the most underrated stallion in the world," O'Brien said. "And, obviously, he's by Scat Daddy, as you know. And Johannesburg was an incredible 2-year-old."
