Ipi Tombe Going to Sadler's Wells

International star Ipi Tombe, whom many thought would be bred to Storm Cat next year, instead will be bred to Sadler's Wells at Coolmore Stud in Ireland. Ipi Tombe will be sent shortly from Kentucky to Ireland.

The decision to breed her to Sadler's Wells instead of to Storm Cat was made because a mating to the latter would result in the foal being inbred 2 x 4 to Storm Bird.

"That's too close," said Barry Irwin of Team Valor, one of the part owners of Ipi Tombe.

Storm Cat is by Storm Bird, who also appears in the third generation of Ipi Tombe's pedigree. Northern Dancer, Storm Bird's sire, appears in the third and fourth generation of Ipi Tombe's pedigree.

Sadler's Wells is a son of Northern Dancer, thus the foal will be inbred 2 x 5 x 4 to Northern Dancer. A mating of Storm Cat to Ipi Tombe would result in an inbreeding of 3 x 5 x 4 to Northern Dancer.

Bred in Zimbabwe, Ipi Tombe was a champion in South Africa and a graded stakes winner at Churchill Downs. She is owned by Team Valor in partnership with WinStar Farm and Sunmark Partners. Plans call for her to be returned to the U.S. once in foal and sold at next year's Keeneland November sale to dissolve the partnership.