Classy sprinter Mattmu returns home for a stallion role

Group 2-winning sprinter Mattmu will next year return to Bearstone Stud in Shropshire, where he was born and raised, to take up covering duties on behalf of his owner-breeder James Bowers.

The son of Indesatchel, trained by Tim Easterby, was a tough and prolific two-year-old in 2014 when his nine runs culminated in victory in the Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte.

He was beaten just a head into second in the Duke of York Stakes on his three-year-old bow and later that season won the Group 3 Phoenix Sprint Stakes and also finished second in the Chipchase Stakes and, most eye-catchingly, third behind Mecca's Angel and Acapulco in the Nunthorpe.

Mattmu's best effort at four was a close third to Magical Memory in the Abernant Stakes and, after a brief retirement, returned this year at five to win the competitive Great St Wilfrid Handicap.

Mattmu is a brother to four-time winner Penny Garcia out of Katie Boo, a speedy daughter of Namid and a half-sister to Bowers' useful sprint handicapper Grissom.

Bearstone Stud owner Terry Holdcroft said: "Everyone [here] is thrilled to welcome home such a classy and consistent horse. He was a real six-furlong specialist who acted on different types of ground and was incredibly sound.

"He deserves his chance at stud and we'll be supporting him with our own mares."

Mattmu will join Fountain Of Youth at Bearstone Stud, with his fee set at £3,000.

If you enjoyed this, you should read:

Irish National Stud welcomes Decorated Knight to its roster

Storm The Stars snapped up to stand at stud in France