'He was the kindest horse' - Heeraat to continue stud career in Sweden

Mickley Stud's Heeraat has been sold and will continue his stallion career in Sweden.

The son of Dark Angel won the Group 3 Hackwood Stakes for William Haggas and Hamdan Al Maktoum in a durable and consistent racing career, before retiring to the Shropshire farm for the 2015 breeding season.

Heeraat is responsible for the prolific Rockingham Stakes victor Aberama Gold, Swedish Listed scorer Freed From Desire and the Richard Hannon-trained five-time winner Motakhayyel so far in his second career.

Mickley Stud founder Richard Kent said on Friday: "He was the nicest, kindest horse we've ever had on the farm and my 11-year-old daughter was with him at 12am the night before he left crying her eyes out and then again at 6am when she sent him off with a bag of carrots."

Heeraat strutting his stuff at the Tattersalls Stallion ParadeCredit: Laura Green

Out of the Green Desert mare Thawrah, the 12-year-old was bred by John McEnery and sold to Shadwell for 140,000gns at Tattersalls as a yearling in 2010, having made 50,000gns at the Foal Sale from McEnery to Rathbarry Stud.

Kent continued: "He had a Listed winner last year but covered only two mares this season. It's a pity but unfortunately it's a brutal market at the moment. Federico Barberini did the deal with a chap from Iran who I sold Captain Gerrard to a few years ago.

"We're very grateful to Shadwell for selling us the horse. He was a very genuine horse who produced genuine stock but in the hard economic climate we're in at the moment, especially for the lower-grade racing, those breeders have disappeared."

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