The first foal by champion Animal Kingdom , winner of the 2011 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brand's (gr. I) and 2013 Dubai World Cup (UAE-I), was born this week at John Messara's Arrowfield Stud in Australia.
The filly foal is out of Tumble Turn, a winning daughter of Redoute's Choice owned by Arrowfield, Planette Thoroughbred, and Belford Productions. The youngster's second dam is Australian group II winner Freestyle. The family includes 2-year-old stakes winner Stella Artois and group winner Aliyana Tilde, a daughter of Snitzel who also is to foal an offspring of Animal Kingdom this season.
Animal Kingdom launched his stallion career in Australia in 2013 following Arrowfield's purchase of majority interest in the breeding rights in the son of Leroidesanimaux from owner/breeder Team Valor in 2012. He went on to win on the international stage for trainer Graham Motion, capturing the Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) before concluding his career with a 5-5-0 record from 12 starts and $8,387,500 in earnings.
Shortly after Animal Kingdom's win in World Cup, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum acquired a 29% interest and announced the horse would shuttle to stand the Northern Hemisphere season at his Darley operation in Lexington. Team Valor retained a minority share.
Animal Kingdom, who is out of German-bred Dalicia, by Acatenango, was foaled and raised at Craig and Holly Bandoroff's Denali Stud in Paris, Ky. Their 21-year-old son Conrad was a recent visitor to Arrowfield and was delighted with the first foal by the 6-year-old horse.
"He took us to the top of the mountain in the Kentucky Derby and took us back there again in Dubai," Bandoroff said of Animal Kingdom in a release on Arrowfield's website.
"I'm really excited by this foal, especially because she's from a mare by Redoute's Choice, and Arrowfield can send so many of his daughters to Animal Kingdom. It's great to see what that mating has produced; she's such a nice foal with good size, good substance and a great frame on her."
Bandoroff said he saw the foal only a few hours after she was born.
"She was already galloping around with a lovely stride," he said. "I really think she'll be a runner!"
Animal Kingdom and Australia's reigning champion sire Redoute's Choice, who stands the Northern Hemisphere season in France, are currently in quarantine. They will return to Arrowfield in time for the farm's stallion open house Aug. 21-24.
