Falco to stand under Elusive Bloodstock banner in 2019

Falco, who has sired top-flight winners under both codes, will stand under the Elusive Bloodstock banner in 2019 following a deal brokered by Richard Venn.

Falco is noted as the sire of Odeliz, a dual Group 1 winner on the Flat following wins in the Prix Jean Romanet and Premio Lydia Tesio, and Peace And Co, who led home stablemates Top Notch and Hargam in the 2015 Triumph Hurdle.

The 13-year-old will relocate from Haras du Grand Chesnaie in France and will be offered to breeders at a £3,000 fee, while his future studmate Sun Central will stand at a £2,000 fee.

Falco, who won the 2008 Poule d'Essai des Poulains, has enjoyed notable success with his Flat runners this year including Group 3 Brownstown Stakes scorer Xenobia and French Listed winner Maifalki.

Beau Gosse, Grade 2-placed hurdler in France this year, continues to advertise his merits as a jumps stallion.

James Gray of Elusive Bloodstock said: "We are very excited to be standing a Group 1 winner, who will be one of the only stallions standing in the UK to have sired a Grade 1 winner over jumps and a Group 1 winner on the Flat.

"He is a gorgeous bay by a wonderful sire and offers breeders the chance to breed a racehorse as well as a sales horse as shown by the recent sale of a three-year-old for €65,000 to Gordon Elliot."

Venn added: "I have been following Falco for some time now, he has produced several quality jumps performers from Flat crops when he was standing at Haras d'Etreham.

"He was moved to Haras du Grand Chesnaie in 2015 and covered his biggest books of National Hunt and AQPS mares.

"His biggest crop of proper National Hunt stock will be three-year-olds in 2019 and I can see him having plenty more winners. He is a big horse, who gives size and gets good-looking progeny, plus he is a good cross for Sadler's Wells-line mares. I can see this proven sire being popular with British National Hunt breeders."

Falco is the second son of Pivotal confirmed to join the British stallion ranks in 2019 after Lightning Spear, who is set to join the Tweenhills Stud roster.

The first foal out of Odeliz, a Dubawi colt, was knocked for 600,000gns on the opening day of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

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