Idaho Retired to Beeches Stud

[Wandering Eyes]

Idaho (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}–Hveger {Aus}, Danehill), a MGSW and dual Classic-placed full-brother to champion Highland Reel (Ire), has been retired and will stand at Beeches Stud under the Coolmore National Hunt banner, Coolmore announced on Sunday. Knocked down for 750,000gns during the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale to M.V. Magnier, the ‘TDN Rising Star’ raced for a Coolmore partnership of Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Mrs. John Magnier.

“Idaho was a very solid, consistent racehorse–sound, clear-winded with a good mind,” said his trainer Aidan O’Brien of the son of G2 South Australian Oaks heroine Hveger. “I think he would have been an impressive winner of the St Leger but for getting brought down in the straight and he showed that when winning the Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot.”

Third in the 2016 G1 Investec Derby and second later that year in the Irish equivalent back at The Curragh, the 6-year-old earned his first group victory in the G2 Great Voltigeur S. at York. After unseating his rider in the G1 St Leger, he returned at four to win the G2 Hardwicke S. and placed in the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. Last year Idaho added the G3 Diamond Ormonde S. to his win column and also ran third in the G1 Goodwood Cup. He retires with a mark of 23-4-2-5 and earned $1,634,798.

The bay is a full-brother to multiple highweight and MG1SW Highland Reel (Ire), English MGSP Cape of Good Hope (Ire), and a half to Australian MG1SP Valdemoro (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}).

Added Beeches Manager Robert McCarthy, “Idaho is an outstanding individual with plenty of size and scope and a great walk. He was a very genuine and talented racehorse who performed at the highest level from two to five years and is a full-brother to a superstar in Highland Reel.”

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