Full speed ahead for Capital Stud as Topgear aims to dazzle on the Irish Stallion Trail

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Capital Stud's emergence in the Irish stud farm ranks has been given a timely boost ahead of this week's ITM Irish Stallion Trail with the arrival of Topgear. 

The high-class son of Wootton Bassett was an unbeaten Group winner at two, headed by a victory in the Prix Eclipse, and he showed plenty of courage when returning from a broken pelvis for more Pattern success for Christopher Head.

The highlight came with a five-and-a-half-length drubbing of talented rivals such as Royal Scotsman, Noble Dynasty and Shouldvebeenaring in the 2024 Challenge Stakes at Newmarket. Having also won the Prix du Pin on his previous outing, he defeated subsequent Prix Maurice de Gheest hero Sajir in the Prix du Palais-Royal last spring for good measure. 

On how the County Kilkenny stud acquired the horse, Capital's Ger O'Neill said: "We enquired about him after he won the Challenge Stakes by over five lengths, beating Group 1 performers. Christopher Head and jockey Stephane Pasquier were of the opinion that he was one of the best horses they'd ever had and were certain he could win Group 1s the following season. 

"He was an unbeaten Group winner at two but then broke his pelvis and didn’t run for nearly two years between two and four. He came back and continued to run and win at a high level and it's important for a stallion to show that kind of constitution. 

"Being out of a Giant’s Causeway mare means he's an outcross for a huge number of the broodmare population too."

On the Irish Stallion Trail itself, he added: "It's been massive for Capital Stud over the last number of years. We make a huge effort for that week and thoroughly enjoy it. It's important people who are involved in racing, or who simply follow the sport but may not breed, have the opportunity to see these stallions around the country. It gives studs the chance to showcase their stallions to people who might not know us personally and, as a result, we've built many new relationships through it."

Topgear, who will stand his debut season for a fee of €7,500, has proved highly popular with breeders already, even before the two-day trail gets under way. 

O'Neill said: "We've never had a stallion impress breeders like him. Every breeder who's come to see him has mares booked in. Even agents who've seen him and have no mares are buying mares for him. He will cover around 150; it's important he covers that number to give him a good chance, but it's also important not to saturate the market."

The second Flat-orientated sire on the roster is Castle Star, a son of Starspangledbanner who won the Marble Hill Stakes and finished a fine second to Perfect Power in the Middle Park Stakes. His first yearlings sell later this year. 

O'Neill said: "His first foals made up to €50,000 and sold to many top judges. The sire line is red hot and the foals look early and mature, which is important for a stallion like him."

Capital Stud is home to an exciting bunch of stallions in both disciplines. Leading the way in the National Hunt division is the now 22-year-old Authorized. The sire of Grand National heroes Tiger Roll and I Am Maximus has recently been represented by Ascot Listed bumper scorer Bass Hunter, as well as Friday's Ballymore Novice Hurdle runner-up Sortudo.

O'Neill said: "Authorized is looking unbelievable. He's produced so many good horses from very limited numbers of jumping mares and nearly every horse running over jumps by him is performing at a very high level, which is extremely rare. 

"I think we'll look back and see the impact he has left on the National Hunt breed as his sons are in very high demand as stallions in Ireland and France. If you think of all the top jumps sires of the past, this is the first time there's been such strong demand for their sons to go to stud. As a broodmare sire, it's the same story. This is something that rarely happens."

The National Hunt roster also includes Martinborough, the sire of multiple Grade 1 winner Majborough, and beautifully bred Group 1 winner Mirage Dancer. The grandson of Juddmonte blue hen Hasili will be represented by his first three-year-olds this year. 

O'Neill added: "Martinborough covered a huge book of high-class mares last year and his statistics, particularly winners to runners, are very strong. Being by Deep Impact, he's a great outcross for mares in this country. 

"Mirage Dancer is one of the best-bred stallions standing anywhere in the world, being out of a Grade 1-winning mare and by Frankel from the stallion-making family of top-level-winning sires Dansili, Cacique and Champs Elysees. He's covered good numbers of mares and produces very strong sales horses."

The team is not resting on its laurels even with a quality-laden stallion roster and O'Neill is constantly striving to improve every aspect. 

He said: "We're always working behind the scenes on what racehorse prospects could complement our stallion roster, whether for the Flat or National Hunt. We bought into Topgear during his racing career and will continue to follow that strategy. It gives us the best chance of getting involved in a high-class horse like Topgear and, hopefully, one day standing a champion."

The Irish Stallion Trail takes place on Friday and Saturday and is free to attend. Registrations can be made here. 

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