Moon Ballad, Grandera Retired; Go to Japan

Godolphin multi-millionaires Moon Ballad and Grandera have been retired from racing and will stand at Yushun Stallion Station in Japan. The two Irish-bred runners were successful on both dirt and turf in group events.

Four-year-old Moon Ballad won this year's Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) over U.S. invader Harlan's Holiday to duplicate the victory achieved by his champion sire, Singspiel, in the 1997 running. In England, he captured two group stakes and placed in such group I events as the Vodafone Epsom Derby and Emirates Airline Champion Stakes. Moon Ballad, who was bred by Newgate Stud Co. and produced from the Shaadi mare Velvet Moon, retires with five wins from 14 starts and earnings of $4,364,791. In his final appearance and his first in North America, he ran last in the Sept. 27 Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I).

Grandera, a 5-year-old by Grand Lodge, was last year's World Series Racing Champion and a champion in England and Ireland. His major wins in 2002 came in the Prince of Wales's Stakes (Eng-I), Ireland the Food Island Champion Stakes (Ire-I), and Singapore Airlines International Cup (Sing-I). Grandera also was a group winner in Dubai and was third in the Prix du-Jockey-Club (Fr-I) and Carlton Draught Cox Plate (Aust-I).

Grandera's 22 starts resulted in six wins and earnings of $2,873,271. Bred by J. Stan Cosgrove, he was produced from the Alysheba mare Bordighera.