Triple Crown king Justify to shuttle to Coolmore's Australian base

Coolmore are to shuttle two Triple Crown winners to Australia for the upcoming southern hemisphere breeding season, with the unbeaten Justify joining American Pharoah on the journey from Kentucky to Jerrys Plains, New South Wales.

"Justify was a phenomenal racehorse who re-wrote the history books through his achievements on the track. It's an absolute privilege to stand him at Coolmore Australia alongside our other US Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, who has already been so well supported by Australian breeders," said Coolmore Australia principal Tom Magnier.

Justify, one of 27 Group/Grade 1 winners by the increasingly important Scat Daddy, was campaigned by WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners LLC, and Starlight Racing and trained by Bob Baffert.

He went unbeaten in a racing career that spanned just under four months, and began with an imperious nine and a half-length victory on his debut at Santa Anita in February.

After just two starts - both wins - he powered to a three-length victory in the Santa Anita Derby.

Justify broke the 'Curse of Apollo' by winning the Kentucky Derby by two and a half lengths, becoming the first horse since Apollo in 1882 to win the Run for the Roses without having raced at two.

He made all to take the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico and sealed the Triple Crown with a wide-margin success in the Belmont Stakes, becoming the first undefeated Triple Crown winner since Seattle Slew. He was retired after his third Classic victory due to injury.

"Scat Daddy was an incredible sire who has made an instant impact as a sire of sires and we look forward to standing his best son in Jerrys Plains," Magnier added.

"History tells us; the best racehorses make the best sires. Justify is a horse of incredibly rare ability, and to stand him alongside fellow US Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in the Hunter Valley is a huge show of faith in the strength of the Australian industry by the Magnier family," said Coolmore Australia's sales and nominations manager Colm Santry.

"There have been two US Triple Crown winners in the last 40 years and 13 in history. They will both stand alongside our very own Australian Triple Crown winning two-year-old Pierro, who has already proven himself as one of the best sires in the country.

"It's probably the first time in history that three Triple Crown winners have stood at one stud in the same season anywhere in the world. It's hugely exciting and we're very much looking forward to showing Justify to Australasian breeders in a couple of months' time," Santry said.

Justify will stand the 2019 season at Coolmore Australia on a private fee basis.