Ashford Stud's freshman sire Declaration of War was represented by his first winner May 8 at Royal Windsor Racecourse when Declarationoflove took the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths.
Bred in Ireland by Liam Butler and Churchtown House Stud, the colt was sold as a yearling to Grant Pritchard-Gordon's Badgers Bloodstock for €28,000 (US$31,514) at the 2016 Goffs Orby yearling sale. He now races for Ian Barrett, Stephen Short, and Adam Signy and is trained by Tom Clover. The 2-year-old colt broke his maiden in his third start going just over five furlongs on good-to-firm turf in 1:00.62.
Declarationoflove is out of the group 3-placed winner Mary's Daughter, by Royal Applause, who is the only black-type runner produced by Aunty Mary (Common Grounds). Badger Bloodstock also bought Mary's Daughter as a broodmare prospect for 85,000 guineas (US$145,969) at the 2013 Tattersalls December Mares sale out of the Musley Bank Stables consignment. Declarationoflove is her first foal.
Declaration of War is a multiple group 1-winning son of War Front . He won both the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) and the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) at 4 on his way to earning $1,847,489. He entered stud at Coolmore Stud in Ireland for €40,000, shuttled to Coolmore Australia for one season, and then settled in at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky., where he stands for $35,000 this year.