Lanwades Stud and HallMarc Stallions announced Sept. 26 the relocation of leading American sire Leroidesanimaux to stand at Lanwades in Newmarket, England, beginning in 2014.
The 13-year-old stallion is expected to be available for inspection to European breeders in early November. His 2014 fee will be announced at a later date.
"We are delighted and very proud to welcome 'Leroi' to Lanwades," said Kirsten Rausing, the farm's owner and general manager. "He represents the reintroduction of the Blushing Groom sire line to the U.K. and with his pedigree, toughness and durability, marvelous racing form on both turf and dirt over distances up to 1 1/16 miles, as well as his proven ability to sire world-class performers, he will be an immensely important addition to the European breeding industry.
"His pedigree makes him a suitable mate for mares by Galileo, Danehill and his sons, Mr. Propsector-line mares, and others. Leroi is the outcross stallion European breeders have been waiting for—and he is a proven stallion, too. We expect strong interest from mare owners throughout Europe."
Champion grass horse for 2005 in the U.S., Leroidesanimaux was the winner of nine races from 13 starts on turf and dirt in the U.S. and Canada for earnings of $1,658.377. The chestnut stallion counts the Citation Handicap (gr. IT), Atto Mile Stakes (Can-IT), and Frank E Kilroe Mile Handicap (gr. IT) among his six graded stakes victories.
"We are excited to have Leroidesanimaux continue his stud career at the premier stallion operation of Lanwades Stud," said Marc Haisfeld of HallMarc Stallions, which is located near Ocala, Fla. "Leroidesanimaux provides European breeders with a valuable opportunity to breed to an Eclipse Award-winning stallion…and we felt it was an ideal time to give him the chance he richly deserves to become a true sire of sires.
"While it was an extremely difficult decision to make, we wanted to do right by the horse," Haisfield said. "We look forward to seeing him compete with Galileo and the other leading European sires atop the world's stallion rankings."
At stud Leroidesanimaux has sired 108 winners including 10 stakes winners that have to date earned more than $16.6 million.
Chief among his progeny is Animal Kingdom , 2011 U.S. champion 3-year-old colt and winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and this year's Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (UAE-I). Animal Kingdom is currently standing his first season at Australia's Arrowfield Stud before returning to the U.S. to stand at Darley in Lexington in 2014.
Grade I winner Una Cabeza and three grade II winners are among the offspring of his first modest-sized crops. He will be numerically better represented with his 2-year-olds in 2014 and beyond, which were conceived after Animal Kingdom's Kentucky Derby win.
