Graded stakes winner Istan, a 5-year-old son of Gone West, has arrived at Brereton C. Jones' Airdrie Stud near Midway, Ky., where he will enter stud for a fee of $10,000.
Istan scored his big win in the Nov. 3 Ack Ack Handicap (gr. III) at Churchill. He registered a 111 Beyer and a 0 Ragozin number in winning the mile stakes by 8 3/4 lengths in 1:34.08.
Istan captured four other stakes this year and recorded a 100-plus Beyer in all four. In what was his final start, he ran fourth in the Nov. 23 Clark Handicap (gr. II) at Churchill Downs.
Bred in Kentucky by Dario Hinojosa, Istan raced for Darpat S.L. Stables before he was acquired by Jones prior to the Clark. Trained by Bill Mott, Istan retired with nine wins from 21 starts and earnings of $461,455. He twice registered 0 Ragozin numbers. Istan had begun his racing career in France, where he was stakes-placed.
Istan is out of the Bluebird mare Ronda. Bred in Great Britain, Ronda was a Group II winner in England, a Group III winner in France, classic-placed in Germany, and Grade I stakes-placed in the U.S. Ronda's second dam is a full sister to the great European champion Mill Reef.