The Grey Gatsby to start second career at Haras du Petit Tellier

Popular dual Group 1 hero The Grey Gatsby has been bought by Haras du Petit Tellier and will start his stallion career at the Normandy stud next year in a deal brokered by Richard Venn.

The six-year-old son of Mastercraftsman, bought by Stephen Hillen for owner Frank Gillespie for €120,000 at the Arqana Breeze-up Sale, was trained by Kevin Ryan for most of his career and by Dermot Weld in his last season of racing this year, and won more than £2.7 million in prize-money.

The Grey Gatsby was second in the Acomb Stakes and Champagne Stakes at two and improved dramatically at three, when he finished second in the Craven Stakes and landed the Dante Stakes and Prix du Jockey Club - the last by an impressive three lengths.

Later in his Classic season he finished second to Australia in the Juddmonte International but turned the tables on that brilliant rival in the Irish Champion Stakes under an inspired ride by Ryan Moore.

As well as beating Australia into second at Leopardstown, he also had Group 1 winners Trading Leather, Mukhadram and Al Kazeem behind.

He did not win at four but proved he retained his brilliance with placed efforts in the Dubai Turf, Coral-Eclipse, Juddmonte International and, most notably, the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot in which he was only just touched off by Free Eagle.

He may not have been quite as much a force at five and six, although he still managed a second in the Princess of Wales's Stakes and fourth in the Prince of Wales's Stakes.

The Grey Gatsby will command a fee of €7,000 at Petit Tellier and the stud is in the process of syndicating the horse, with around 20 to 25 shares being sold for €18,000, each entitling the holder to two nominations in the first three seasons with further incentives given for keep and insurance.

Stud owner Patrick Chedeville said: "The Grey Gatsby was a wonderful racehorse with good conformation and temperament; just a very well-balanced individual.

"He will be a valuable new stallion in France from the Danehill line, which is not seen in France as much as in the rest of Europe, especially in Ireland."

The Grey Gatsby's retirement is timely as Mastercraftsman has been in good form of late, supplying Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes heroine Off Limits, stakes scorers Master The World and Mint Julep and a number of exciting two-year-old winners.

His female pedigree makes him a good fit for France, as he is out of Saint-Cloud Listed runner-up Marie Vison and hails from the immediate family of French Group 1 winners Macoumba, Maximova and Septieme Ciel.

The Grey Gatsby is expected to arrive at Petit Tellier in the coming weeks, and will be on show alongside his new studmates Elvstroem, Meshaheer and Vespone during the Route des Etalons open weekend in Normandy on January 20 and 21.

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