Overbury Stud confirms retirement of British jumps sire legend Kayf Tara

Britain's leading National Hunt sire Kayf Tara has been retired from covering duty at Overbury Stud.

The son of Sadler's Wells, who is 26, has been suffering from declining fertility.

Overbury Stud manager Simon Sweeting confirmed that Kayf Tara is otherwise in tremendous health and he would live out his days on the Gloucestershire farm.

Kayf Tara was bred by Meon Valley Stud out of its Irish Oaks heroine Colorspin, making him a sibling to fellow Group 1 winners Opera House and Zee Zee Top.

The handsome bay struck in the Gold Cup twice for Godolphin, and also notched two victories in the Irish St Leger. He retired to stud with a record of ten wins and three other placings from 15 starts.

He has established himself as one of the best jumps stallions to have ever stood in Britain, being crowned the country's champion in that department on 11 occasions, and compiling a long list of celebrity offspring headed by the likes of Carruthers, Edwulf, Identity Thief, Special Tiara, Tea For Two and Thistlecrack.

Kayf Tara may no longer be in service but we will hear more of him for many years to come as he has long been one of the go-to stallions for breeders with their best jumps broodmares. He covered 69 last year and 91 in 2018.

His retirement marks the end of an era in British jumps breeding, as he stood at Overbury Stud for 20 seasons, having covered his first book of mares amid the foot and mouth crisis of 2001.

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