Cheveley Park Stud is delighted to announce the purchase of a share in the dual Group 1 winning and unbeaten 2-year-old VANDEEK. The colt has been retired from racing and will take up stallion duties at Cheveley Park Stud in 2025, in partnership with KHK Racing Ltd.
VANDEEK was the highest rated (119) British trained 2-year-old of last season having remained unbeaten in four starts, which included victories in the Group 1 Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes, Group 1 Sumbe Prix Morny, as well as the Group 2 Richmond Stakes. VANDEEK was last seen when finishing a creditable third in this season’s Group 1 July Cup, which confirmed him as one of the best sprinters of his generation. Following that run VANDEEK sustained a minor soft tissue injury, and will not have enough time to run again this season. He will now be prepared to take up stallion duties at Cheveley Park Stud for the 2025 Northern Hemisphere breeding season.
His joint trainer, Simon Crisford, commented; “Vandeek was a brilliant two-year-old for Sheikh Khalid and his amazing turn of foot set him apart from the others. He had a wonderful temperament and he was such a great pleasure to train. His Juddmonte Middle Park victory was sensational and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a better winner of that race. He was pure class and it is such a great shame he didn’t have the opportunity to fulfil his potential this year.”
Winning jockey James Doyle added; “I got a huge thrill from riding Vandeek in the Juddmonte Middle Park and he was an exceptional racehorse blessed with a blistering turn of pace.”
VANDEEK was the joint top Lot at the 2023 Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale when selling to Anthony Stroud for 625,000 guineas. He is also the best progeny of the brilliant young sire sensation Havana Grey, and hails from the speed laden family of Champion sire and Group 1 July Cup winner Anabaa, and Group 1 winner and prolific producer Balbonella.
Managing Director, Chris Richardson said “Patricia Thompson is delighted to have been able to secure Vandeek, in partnership with Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, to stand at Cheveley Park Stud in Newmarket, making this very exciting son of Havana Grey available to British and international breeders and thus further enhancing the long established history of Cheveley Park Stud standing world class stallions”.
A 2025 fee for VANDEEK, will be given at a later date.