'We thought he would be unattainable' - Scorthy Champ joins new adventure at Barton Stud

Group 1 Scorthy Champ will be standing at Barton Stud in 2026 as Tom Blain's team add another aspect to the operation just outside Bury St Edmunds.

The Mehmas colt, who earned his biggest day when landing last year's National Stakes for Joseph O'Brien, will start his stallion career at an initial fee of £8,500.

Standing Scorthy Champ marks a new direction for the business, which is best known as a breeder and consignor.

Barton managing director Blain said: "It’s always been my dream to stand stallions. We have built the business up over the last ten years and this feels like a natural and incredibly exciting step for us.

"Despite the much-discussed headwinds we are facing as an industry, especially here in the UK, I remain excited and optimistic about what can be achieved with the right horses.

"We are absolutely thrilled to have secured Scorthy Champ for the 2026 breeding season. We’ve been looking very hard for a stallion throughout the year and he was always right up there on our wish-list. The truth is we thought he would be unattainable, so it’s fantastic we’ve been able to acquire a horse that ticks as many boxes as he does." 

Barton Stud's Tom Blain is realising an ambition with Scorthy ChampCredit: SARAH FARNSWORTH

Scorthy Champ, the brother of Horris Hill winner Knight and Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte scorer and top-level runner-up Malavath, was knocked down to O'Brien for 155,000gns as a yearling at Tattersalls Book 1.

“Scorthy Champ hails from a superb family, " Blain added. "His dam Fidaaha has produced multiple stakes performers and second dam Ceist Eile’s offspring includes two Group winners and also an unraced daughter Ceistiu, mother of 2025 Glorious Goodwood Group 3 Gordon Stakes victor Merchant.

“Physically, Scorthy Champ, is an incredibly good-looking horse from a famously attractive family. He possesses plenty of size, scope and an impressive walk. I feel he offers breeders across Europe real value.

“We are selling limited breeding rights in the horse. The deal is highly attractive to investors, who I hope will be with us for the long term on this journey."

Scorthy Champ is set to arrive in the coming days and will be available to see from mid-December.

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