Mill Reef Stakes winner Alkumait joins burgeoning roster at Castlefield Stud

Last year's Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes winner Alkumait has been acquired by Capital Bloodstock to stand at Castlefield Stud.

The son of Showcasing will be offered at a fee of €5,000 and is the second new addition to the roster at Ger O'Neill's Kilkenny farm following on fromAustralian Group 1 winner Mirage Dancer, by Frankel.

Capital Bloodstock is offering an €100,000 bonus to the connections of the first black-type winner from Alkumait's first crop of two-year-olds.

"We believe so strongly in this horse that we are putting our necks out by offering this huge financial incentive," said Jack Tuohy, who was behind the deal. "There is €100,000 to be split three ways, with the breeder receiving €50,0000 and the winning trainer and owner €25,000 each."

Bred by Whitsbury Manor Stud, where his sire resides, Alkumait was sold for 150,000gns to West Park Farm as a foal and was a 220,000gns Tattersalls Book 1 yearling, bought by Shadwell from Baroda Stud.

Sent into training with Marcus Tregoning, who also trained Showcasing's Sussex Stakes winner Mohaather for the same connections, Alkumait ran four times as a juvenile, winning a six-furlong Goodwood maiden on his second start.

He then made the leap into Group company in the Mill Reef on just the third run of his life but demonstrated an impressive turn of foot to defeat Fivethousandtoone and Rhythm Master. He had one further start at two in the Dewhurst Stakes on soft ground, which appeared not to suit him.

Alkumait at the head of the 2020 Mill Reef fieldCredit: Mark Cranham

Alkumait ran just once this year, in the Greenham Stakes, where he finished in mid-division behind Chindit.

His Cityscape half-brother The Broghie Man won Navan's Listed Committed Stakes as a three-year-old and he is also a half-brother to Gloves Lynch, a son of Mukhadram, who was third in the Listed Prix Herod at two.

Their dam Suelita is a winning sprinter and a Dutch Art half-sister to the dam of Lowther Stakes winner Living In The Past. Second dam Venoge is an unraced daughter of Green Desert and is a half-sister to Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Moment In Time and to the dam of last season's Marble Hill Stakes winner and Middle Park second Castle Star.

Tuohy emphasises Alkumait's similarities with Showcasing and his speed when discussing his new stallion's most exciting attributes.

"We loved how much he resembles Showcasing in his looks and the fact that like his sire, who was the fastest ever winner of the Gimcrack, Alkumait is also the fastest winner of another important stallion-producing two-year-old race," Tuohy said.

"He is the fastest ever winner of the Mill Reef Stakes and the fastest six-furlong Group-winning two-year-old by Showcasing. We believe that Alkumait is an exciting addition to the Irish sprint stallion ranks next year given there are limited first season options for commercial breeders under the €10,000 mark.

"We have purchased this horse with the drive of a very capable syndicate behind him, all of whom are going to send him their best mares. There are also a limited number of commercially priced breeding rights available in Alkumait."

Tuohy added that the bonus incentive scheme will cover racing in Ireland, the UK, France and the USA and is a reflection of their commitment to the horse and the strength of their belief in him.

"We want this horse to work for everyone involved and to reward them from the get-go," he added.

Alkumait and Mirage Dancer join Hunting Horn under the Capital banner at Castlefield Stud, where the Group 2 winner covered in excess of 80 mares during his first season.

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