Sprint ace Drefong sold to stand at Shadai

Baoma Corporation, owners of Drefong, have announced the brilliant sprinter has been sold to stand at the Shadai Stallion Station in Japan.

The four-year-old son of Gio Ponti was the comfortable winner of the King's Bishop Stakes before scoring a decisive victory in the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita last year.

This season he put up his renowned bold front-running display again to win the Forego Stakes, and was unfortunate to have unseated his jockey in the Bing Crosby Stakes.

The Bob Baffert inmate signed off his racing career with a below-par sixth in his repeat bid in the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

Susan and Charles Chu, who own Baoma and raced Drefong, said: “He gave to us and our extended family so much pleasure and leaves us with some wonderful memories.

"We thank our trainer Bob Baffert for taking great care of Drefong and making him an outstanding champion. With his beautiful looks and natural ability we're sure he will be very well supported in Japan and we will look forward to seeing his young foals.”

Drefong is out of the unraced Ghostzapper mare Eltimaas, a half-sister to Breeders' Cup Juvenile hero Action This Day. Further back it is the family of high-class performers Cannock Chase, Lord Admiral and Pisco Sour.