Classy sprinter Tasleet recruited to Nunnery Stud roster

Shadwell has recruited the high-class sprinter Tasleet to join its stallion roster at Nunnery Stud in Norfolk next year.

The five-year-old son of red-hot young sire Showcasing will have one last run, in the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot next month, before being retired.

Tasleet has taken high rank in the sprinting division over four consecutive seasons since the age of two, when he broke his maiden by three lengths on his second start and took the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes and competitive DBS Premier Yearling Stakes, and also finished second in the Richmond Stakes and Somerville Tattersall Stakes.

He won the Greenham Stakes at three and recorded a wide-margin victory in the Duke of York Stakes at four last year, when he also finished second in three Group 1 contests.

In the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot he was beaten only a neck by The Tin Man, while in the Haydock Sprint Cup he found only Harry Angel too good and in the British Champions Sprint Stakes he finished behind Librisa Breeze but ahead of the likes of Caravaggio, Harry Angel, The Tin Man and Brando.

Tasleet has run twice this year, including when third to subsequent Diamond Jubilee Stakes hero Merchant Navy in the Greenlands Stakes.

Trainer William Haggas said: “Tasleet is a thoroughly tough and genuine horse with a great temperament. He's a good-looking horse – all quality. We're looking forward to his last run at Ascot.”

Nunnery Stud's newest recruit has a pedigree that should ensure he is popular with commercial breeders as he is the highest rated colt by Showcasing, who has been in fine form this year with his first more expensively bred two-year-old crop including Phoenix Stakes winner Advertise and Flying Childers Stakes scorer Soldier's Call.

Furthermore, Tasleet is out of Bird Key, a mare by Cadeaux Genereux – also damsire of champion sprinters Dream Ahead and Harry Angel – who is a half-sister to no fewer than nine winners including Champagne Stakes victor and July Cup third Etlaala.

Anna Law, another half-sister to Bird Key, is the dam of the brilliantly fast Prix de l'Abbaye winner Battaash.

Shadwell Stud director Richard Lancaster commented: “We're thrilled to be introducing Tasleet to breeders. He's a neat, good-looking horse with an active step and has shown tremendous consistency over four consecutive seasons, putting up performances that have entitled him to be considered among the best sprinters of recent years.

“We often hear British breeders say there is a shortage of attractively priced commercial stallions in this country, and Tasleet looks tailor-made to fill that gap.

"It promises to be an exciting year at Nunnery Stud in 2019. Not only will we launch the career of Tasleet, but the keenly anticipated first two-year-olds by Muhaarar will make their racecourse debuts, while Mukhadram's promising debut crop turns three and Nayef continues to prove a fine source of smart winners at a value price.”

Tasleet will be available to view at Beech House Stud in Newmarket during the Tattersalls December Sales.

A fee for him and other Nunnery Stud stallions will be announced at a later date.

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