Bradsell a ‘Hugely Exciting’ Newcomer to the National Stud

[Wandering Eyes]

The National Stud certainly cannot be accused of lacking variety in its stallion ranks. The champion stayer Stradivarius (Ire) has been the kingpin of the stallion yard for the last two seasons but now he will have to make room for another much-loved star in Bradsell (GB), the champion sprinter in Europe in 2024.

It didn't take long for Bradsell to make his presence felt. Having been sold at the Goffs UK Breeze-up Sale by Mark Grant to Tom Biggs and Archie Watson, he made his debut exactly a month later on the Knavesmire, winning that York novice contest by nine lengths and instantly being named a TDN Rising Star. Further justification of that came another three weeks later when, by now racing in the red-and-white silks of Shaikh Nasser Al Khalifa's Victorious Racing, he won the G2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot from Persian Force (Ire), Royal Scotsman (Ire) and Blackbeard (Ire), all of whom went on to frank the form by becoming Group 1 or Group 2 winners themselves. 

When he stumbled in the G1 Keeneland Phenix Stakes before hanging to finish fourth of the five runners, it might have been easiest to assume that here was another flash-in-the-pan two-year-old, whose star burned brightly but briefly, and was extinguished for good before the season was out. But such an assumption was to reckon without the tenacity of the power-packed Bradsell, who was skilfully brought back not once but twice from injury by Watson to compile a record that speaks not just to his gumption but also to his good mind.

“I think everybody can remember that debut,” says Joe Bradley, head of bloodstock for the National Stud, who is now responsible for ensuring that Bradsell has a similarly explosive start to his second career.

“We all know that that two-year-old form, but especially the two-year-old to four-year-old form at a high level, is incredibly important for a stallion, and he has that in abundance.”

Indeed, a low-key exit from a desperate draw in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint cannot detract from the three Group 1 triumphs added to Bradsell's record at three and four, along with a Listed victory in Deauville last summer as a pipe-opener after almost a year off the track with a fracture. 

“He was the first three-year-old colt in 15 years to win the King's Stand Stakes,” says Bradley. “And the King's Stand at Royal Ascot is one that sprinters from across the world commonly target. His performance that day was exceptional and for him to perform at the highest level as a three-year-old, then into his four-year-old campaign, was just incredible.”

Straight off the plane home from California, Bradsell was in to the National Stud stallion yard and showing for breeders who were in town for the December Sales. Now, with a little time to settle in, he is already letting down and is quite clearly becoming a firm favourite of the team charged with his care.

Bradley continues, “It's hugely exciting for the National Stud and for everybody involved with Victorious Racing to have him standing here for the 2025 season. The response has been hugely positive. I think we've been a bit taken aback.”

He notes that it is hoped that Bradsell, who is one of only three new Flat stallions in Britain in 2025, will cover a book of around 130 mares in his first season, including a group owned by Victorious Racing and Fawzi Nass. 

“He looks like exactly what he should look like,” Bradley adds of the son of Tasleet (GB) and the Listed-winning Archipenko mare Russian Punch (GB). “We're looking at a champion sprinter, so he has all the qualities of that physically. Very strong: short-coupled, strong hip, strong shoulder. And he really just looks like that fast, precocious horse that he is. And he's really a pleasure to have around, especially for the people here who handle him daily. It's very important that they have a horse that is easy to handle.”

While there were some notable highs at last year's yearling and foal sales, the overall picture can be a little daunting for those smaller breeders operating on a budget and sometimes struggling to get young stock into a sale, never mind to sell at a profit. Their numbers have dropped in recent years, as exemplified by a reduction in the foal crop, which was down by six per cent in Britain and Ireland last year. 

The departure of a number of stallions to stand overseas – including Bradsell's relatively young sire Tasleet, and Mutsasaabeq (GB), who was sold by the National Stud to India after standing just one season in Newmarket, adds to the uncertainty for breeders currently finalising their mating plans. 

The National Stud is attempting to ease potential cash flow concerns for breeders around sales time later this year by offering both Stradivarius and Bradsell on Live Foal terms, meaning that payment is delayed until a foal is on the ground next spring. (The farm's other two stallions, Lope Y Fernandez and Rajasinghe, remain on October 1 SLF terms.)

“It's just our little additional help that we can do very easily,” Bradley says. “And I think that's reflected, again, in the support that we've seen so far. It really makes a difference for breeders and we're very happy to do it.”

He continues, “It's something that's been talked about quite a lot recently, that lower-to-bottom-end market, and that's definitely an area that is struggling. But that's not to say that people aren't still participating and I think the appetite for breeding to horses is still there.

“We see breeders who are still very keen to get involved at that level, and we're still seeing a strong uptake on boarding mares, coming not only here to National Stud stallions but also visiting other stallions in Newmarket. So we're very positive for the season ahead. We understand the challenges and we do what we can to help.”

 

The post Bradsell a ‘Hugely Exciting’ Newcomer to the National Stud appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article