Multiple champion Benny the Bull will stand in 2013 at Eugene Melnyk's Winding Oaks Farm near Ocala, Fla., for a fee of $2,500 live foal. Owned by Greg James, he formerly was based at Vinery in Florida.
Nine-year-old Benny the Bull earned a 2008 Eclipse Award as top sprinter and was a champion sprinter in Dubai that year. His major career wins came in the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash Stakes (gr. I) and the Gulf News Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-I).
By Lucky Lionel, Benny the Bull also won the Smile Sprint Handicap (gr. II), the True North Handicap (gr. II), and two other stakes. He was retired with a record of 9-3-2 from 20 starts and earnings of $2,353,430.
"Mr. Melnyk is excited to have champion Benny the Bull stand at his farm," said Phil Hronec, manager of Winding Oaks. "As you know, he is the first outside stallion we've taken here. We are planning to breed some of our own mares to Benny the Bull next year."
Benny the Bull shuttled to Brazil for the 2012 Southern Hemisphere breeding season, standing at Haras Santa Teresa. He is due back in Florida sometime before the end of December. His first foals will be 2-year-olds in 2013.
Benny the Bull is out of the stakes-winning Birdonthewire mare Comet Cat, whose dam, Granny's Kitty, also is a stakes winner.
