Swain to Stand at Ascot in Ontario

English and Irish champion Swain will stand in 2010 at Chris Blake’s Ascot Stud near Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada. He formerly stood at Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Farm near Lexington.

Seventeen-year-old Swain (Nashwan--Love Smitten, by Key to the Mint) has sired a dozen stakes winners, including grade I winner Dimitrova, grade II winner Stanley Park, and several overseas group winners. His progeny earnings are $11.3 million.

“Since his runners have excelled on turf, we feel they should do well racing over the synthetic surface at Woodbine,” Blake said.

Swain, a two-time winner of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (Eng-I), finished third in two runnings of the Breeders’ Cup Turf (gr. IT). He earned a career total of $3,797,566.

Swain will remain the property of Shadwell. His 2010 fee is $3,500 (Canadian funds).