'He's a striking horse' - three-time Grade 1 winner Jack Christopher retired

Triple Grade 1 winner Jack Christopher, a three-year-old son of Munnings, has been retired from racing and will stand at Coolmore America's Ashford Stud for an advertised fee of $45,000, the farm announced on Friday.

"Jack Christopher was an exceptional talent," said trainer Chad Brown. "I've never had a dirt horse with such brilliance. He never disappointed us in a workout or a race and was just a pleasure to train."

A flashy chestnut, like his sire, he went unbeaten around one turn, scoring three times at the highest level over seven furlongs and a mile. On Travers Stakes day last year, the word was all over the track that Jack Christopher was Chad Brown's best young prospect. He debuted going six furlongs and won by eight and three-quarter lengths.

Stepped straight up to Grade 1 company in his second start in the Champagne Stakes, he ran true to his odds as the 8-5 favourite with a two and three-quarter-length victory over Hopeful Stakes winner Gunite.

More explosive performances followed in his sophomore year in the Pat Day Mile Stakes, Woody Stephens Stakes by ten lengths, and the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes. The latter race this summer proved to be his final start.

Before the Jerkens, Jack Christopher was third behind Cyberknife and Taiba in the mile and one-eighth Haskell Stakes, his only defeat in six starts. He raced this year for owners Jim Bakke, Gerald Isbister, Coolmore and Peter Brant.

"We are delighted to have Jack Christopher now here at Ashford standing alongside his sire Munnings," said Coolmore's Dermot Ryan. "He's a striking horse with great presence and a lovely temperament. Horses like him are what makes racing exciting to watch."

He is the best son of Ashford's Munnings, a son of champion sprinter Speightstown, whose fee has risen from $20,000 to $100,000 in the past five years.

Jack Christopher is out of the Half Ours daughter Rushin No Blushin, a half-sister to dual Grade 1 winner Street Boss, who set a six-furlong track record of 1:08 67 at Del Mar in the Bing Crosby Stakes.

Street Boss, by Street Cry, became a successful stallion, having sired 61 black-type winners so far that include Grade/Group 1 winners in North America and Australia. Street Boss's best runners include Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia and Hong Kong horse of the year and champion middle-distance horse Street Rapper.

Rushin No Blushin is out of the stakes-placed winner Blushing Ogygian, who is also the dam of Graded-placed winner Habiboo, the dam of Graded winners Bellera and Life Imitates Art.

The immediate family has also produced Graded winner Beyond Blame; Grade 1-placed winner Loggins, who was second in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity; and Grade 1-placed, multiple Graded winner Running Stag.

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