European Horse of the Year Roaring Lion introduced at £40,000

Roaring Lion will stand his debut season at Tweenhills Stud for a fee of £40,000, the highest price confirmed so far for a newcomer to the stallion ranks in Great Britain and Ireland.

The son of Kitten's Joy, who was crowned the Cartier Horse of the Year earlier this week after winning four Group 1s during 2018, was paraded at his new home on Thursday having returned from his unsuccessful Breeders' Cup Classic mission.

That final race blemish took little gloss off what was a remarkable three-year-old campaign for Roaring Lion, who progressed from promising displays in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas and Investec Derby to confirm himself the dominant force over ten furlongs.

Roaring Lion was bought for $160,000 from the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by David Redvers, manager of Qatar Racing, who on Thursday spoke of his pride at seeing the colt join the stallion ranks at Tweenhills.

"It is a huge privilege and honour to stand Roaring Lion for Sheikh Fahad and his brothers," said Redvers.

"He is by some margin the best horse I have ever been involved with, and is the toughest horse I have seen on a racecourse. His class, durability and will to win made him look cut from a different cloth this season and his pedigree and looks make him one of the most attractive stallion prospects to retire to stud in recent years.

"He’s a superior horse and I believe he will prove an equally strong influence as a sire."

Lightning Spear: defeated 39 Group 1 winners during his long careerCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Lightning ready to strike

Another horse to have carried the Qatar Racing silks with distinction, Lightning Spear, was also on display at Tweenhills on Thusday as he too prepares to embark on his stallion career at a fee of £8,500.

A son of Pivotal, the seven-year-old provided one of the moments of the 2018 Flat season when he finally made the breakthrough at Group 1 level in the Sussex Stakes in August.

Bought by Redvers for 260,000gns from Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, he won more than £1.3 million in prize-money and finished in the first three in 15 of his 27 races, defeating 39 Group 1 winners in the process.

"Lightning Spear was one of the best looking yearlings I’ve ever seen," said Redvers.

"With his stunning pedigree, soundness and unique turn of foot, he will provide breeders with an outstanding opportunity at a commercial fee."

Zoustar: the record-breaking Australian sire shuttles to Tweenhills for 2019

Aussie star incoming

The final new addition to the Tweenhills ranks is Zoustar, who will reverse shuttle from his native Australia and stand for a fee of £25,000.

A son of the late Northern Meteor, Zoustar has made an explosive start to his second career. Last season's champion first-season sire in Australia, he provided the one-two-three in the increasingly important Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington earlier this month courtesy of Sunlight, Zousain and Lean Mean Machine.

Meanwhile, Zoustar's third yearling crop averaged A$190,000 at the 2018 sales and Redvers once again urged breeders not to drag their feet if they want to send a mare to him.

"The much anticipated arrival of Zoustar offers European breeders the chance to breed to a true record breaker," said Redvers.

"He is recognised as one of the most exciting young stallions in the world and, with a limited book and a strong syndicate supporting the horse, breeders will need to move very fast if they wish to secure a nomination."

The newcomers are joined by the returning Charm Spirit, who stood at Haras de Bonneval last year and will be offered for £17,500, down from £20,000 when he was last at Tweenhills in 2017.

He has been represented by his first crop this year, with Yourtimeisnow winning a Salisbury Group 3 in September.

Havana Gold, meanwhile, remains at £15,000 with Havana Grey having represented him at the elite level this year as his yearlings sold for a high of 250,000gns.

The Tweenhills roster is completed by Hot Streak, whose fee has also been increased slightly to £7,000 after his first yearlings averaged almost 41,000gns and sold for as much as 220,000gns.

"All of our stallions will continue to stand on special live foal terms and our team will do everything to assist breeders make the best decisions for their mares and businesses," said Redvers.

"To this end we will also be offering a free return to any breeder breeding a stakes winner by one of our stallions. This may be used either on the stallion responsible or any of the Qatar stallions at Tweenhills as a credit to the value of that nomination."

Tweenhills Stud fees 2019 (2018)

Roaring Lion £40,000 (new)
Zoustar £25,000 (new)
Lightning Spear £8,500 (new)
Charm Spirit £17,500 (€20,000)
Havana Gold £15,000 (£15,000
Hot Streak £7,000 (£6,000)

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