The Taj Mahal and Frankel colt Merovee to be sold as stallion prospects

The Taj Mahal, a multiple Group 2 winner and member of one of the best families in the stud book, will join three other stallion prospects to go under the hammer at the conclusion of day one of the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on May 28.

A winner of the last two runnings of the Group 2 Zipping Classic at Sandown in Australia, The Taj Mahal is by world champion sire Galileo out of champion producer You'resothrilling, a Storm Cat full-sister to the 'iron horse' Giant's Causeway.

The Taj Mahal, who ran fourth to Brametot in the 2017 Prix du Jockey Club when trained by Aidan O'Brien, is a full-brother to three elite winners in Gleneagles, Happily and Marvellous and is closely related to three-time Group 1 winner Decorated Knight.

Gleneagles, a champion at two and three in Europe, is standing at Coolmore Stud in Ireland and his first runner Highland Chief was a winner.

"The Taj Mahal was a tough, genuine horse who was unlucky not to win a Group 1 in Australia," said part-owner Nick Williams. "He ran in some of the biggest Group 1 races in both hemispheres."

"It's not often a horse with such an incredible pedigree has the looks to match. He's an absolutely outstanding individual and his family is high class and very current.

"In my opinion he's the best opportunity for a middle-distance stallion in this part of the world since Dundeel."

The other stallion prospects set to go under the hammer later this month are Snitzel colt Bondi, Not A Single Doubt entire Good Project, and Frankel's son Merovee.

Bondi (lot 1009) was second in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes at two and beaten a nose in the Magic Millions Guineas at the Gold Coast in January. The son of Snitzel, like The Taj Mahal, has been entered as part of a star-studded Newgate consignment.

Chris Waller Racing will present two stallion prospects - Good Project (1010) and Merovee (1011).

Good Project, a half-brother to two stakes performers, added his name to the Group 1 Railway Stakes roll of honour, while Frankel's son Merovee was second in Pattern company as a three-year-old.

"Never before have we been able to catalogue such a quality line up of stallion prospects at the National Sale," said Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch.

"All four stallions are impeccably bred and showed great ability on the racetrack. They look top prospects for any farm."

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