Malibu Moon , who has stood the last four years at Castleton Lyons near Lexington, will stand in 2008 at B. Wayne Hughes' newly renovated Spendthrift Farm, also near Lexington. Hughes is the majority owner in the 10-year-old son of A.P. Indy. Castleton Lyons, founded by Tony Ryan, who died Oct. 3, will retain its ownership interest in Malibu Moon.
"We are proud to have managed Malibu Moon's Kentucky stud career," said Ryan's son, farm president Shane Ryan, in a prepared statement. "My father was especially enthusiastic about this sire, as his first Castleton Lyons crop raced very successfully this year as 2-year-olds."
Malibu Moon ranks ninth on this year's sires of 2-year-olds list, with progeny earnings of more than $480,000.
Action This Day, a champion 2-year-old male who stood all three years at Castleton Lyons, also will make the move to Spendthrift. Hughes, who bought Action This Day for $150,000 at the 2002 Keeneland July yearling sale, is majority owner of the 6-year-old son of Kris S. Castleton Lyons has retained an interest in Action This Day.
Bred and raced by Hughes, Malibu Moon began his stallion career in 2000 for a fee of $3,000 at the Pons family's Country Life Farm near Bel Air, Md. He was moved to Castleton Lyons for the 2004 breeding season to stand under the joint ownership of Hughes, Country Life, and Castleton Lyons for a fee of $10,000. Malibu Moon ended that 2003 season with 13 winners, including grade II winner Perfect Moon.
For the 2005 breeding season, Malibu Moon's fee was increased to $30,000. In 2007, it reached $40,000.
Malibu Moon's second crop yielded 2-year-old champion Declan's Moon, as well as grade I winner Malibu Mint. To date, Malibu Moon has sired 25 stakes winners, a dozen of which are stakes winners this year.
Malibu Moon, who is out of the Mr. Prospector mare Macoumba, is represented by the earners of $4 million this year and the career earners of $13.7 million.
Action This Day captured the 2003 Breeders' Cup Juvenile the year of his championship. He is out of the graded stakes-placed Trempolino mare Najecam.
Fees for Action This Day, whose first foals are yearlings, and Malibu Moon will be announced later.
