Grade 1 winner Sadler's Joy sold to stand at owner-breeder's stud in Turkey

Grade 1 winner Sadler's Joy has been sold to owner-breeder Arif Kurtel and will take up stud duties next year at his farm in Turkey.

Kurtel purchased Catapult, a son of Kitten's Joy, at the 2019 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale for $50,000 from the Lane's End's consignment. The reception to the Grade 1-placed, Grade 2 winner was so strong that Kurtel went looking for another El Prado-line stallion.

"We've been working to purchase Sadler's Joy for the last six to seven months," said said Murat Sancal of Sancal Racing, who helps Kurtel identify and acquire stallions.

In August, the owner-breeder acquired the Grade 1-placed, multiple Graded winner and freshman sire War Correspondent. Kurtel also stands Avery Island, Tizway and Air Vice Marshal.

Initially, Kurtel had hoped to race Sadler's Joy in the International Bosphorus Cup at Veliefendi racecourse in Istanbul next month, but shipping regulations have prevented him from getting the eight-year-old to Turkey in time, according to Sancal.

He said: "He is a wonderful racehorse, and we want to thank long-time trainer Tom Albertrani for keeping him sound while he raced in high-level races. We also recognise how much his owner-breeder loves this horse by all the details they asked for before they said yes.

"We will give him the best opportunities to prove himself as a stallion and at the same time have a happy life."

Sadler's Joy, a homebred for Woodslane Farm, was bred out of the Dynaformer mare Dynaire, who is also the dam of the stakes-placed winners Lunaire and Dyna Passer. Dynaire is in turn out of the Grade 3 winner Binya, a half sister to Grade 1 scorer Sabin and the dam of Grade 2-placed Beau Belle and the stakes-placed Be Perfect.

Sadler's Joy was trained by Albertrani and won or placed in 18 Graded contests. His best performances came when winning the Sword Dancer Stakes and Pan American Stakes in 2017, the Mac Diarmida Stakes in 2018, and the Red Smith Stakes in 2019. He was also third in the 2018 Breeders' Cup Turf.

He retires with seven wins and 15 placings from 37 starts, and earnings of $2,679,910.

Sancal said the horse will be shipped to Turkey in early November.

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