'He’s just like Ardad' - Flying Childers winner Caturra retired to Overbury Stud

Caturra, a son of the in-demand Mehmas and winner of the Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster last year, has been retired from racing and will take up stallion duties at Overbury Stud in 2023.

Joining a diverse roster that includes the exciting Group 1-producing sire Ardad as well as Jack Hobbs, fellow new recruit and Derby hero Golden Horn, Schiaparelli and Frontiersman, Caturra will be available to view at Crockfords Stud in Newmarket from Sunday to Wednesday.

The three-year-old was bred by Tally-Ho Stud and sold to Blandford Bloodstock for £110,000 at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2020, before being sent into training with Clive Cox.

Owned by Saeed bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Caturra lost his maiden tag on his second start at Bath in May last year. He then finished a fair seventh in the Coventry Stakes before a first black type victory in the Listed Rose Bowl Stakes at Newbury.

A second in the Listed Julia Graves Roses Stakes at York was followed by his signature success, a neck defeat of Armor in Doncaster's Group 2 for juveniles at the St Leger meeting. He was then beaten only a length and a half by Perfect Power when fifth in the Middle Park Stakes.

Although without a win at three, Caturra ran creditably several times, including when a three-quarter length second on his reappearance in the Group 3 Prix Sigy at Chantilly. He was also third in Sandown's Listed Scurry Stakes and again in the Group 2 King George Stakes at Goodwood.

He will stand at Overbury for an opening fee of £6,500.

Stud manager Simon Sweeting said: "We're keeping things simple - these are the same terms Ardad started at, and if ever there was a second Ardad, it is this horse.

"He's a fast and notably precocious Flying Childers winner by a top commercial stallion, just like Ardad. And, if anything, Caturra is even better looking, with the most lovely head and bags of strength and quality. We’re really looking forward to showing him to breeders during the December Sales."

Blandford's Richard Brown added: "Caturra is the fastest son of Mehmas, and he won the same big race as Ardad. Those are two of the biggest names in the commercial market, and Caturra – who’s a particularly good-looking horse – has every chance of joining them. He’s just like Ardad."

Cattura, a full-brother to Italian winner Berta and a half-sibling to the Listed-placed and Al Biddah Mile winner Sir Arthur Dayne, is the fifth foal out of the winning Sleeping Indian mare Shoshoni Wind, a half-sister to Group 3 Chipchase Stakes third Burnwynd Boy.

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