Michael and Laurel Byrne’s Park Stud near Orangeville, ON, announce the addition of Exhi and Nephrite to their stallion roster for 2014.
Exhi won 5 stakes on Polytrack including four in succession; Turfway’s Rushaway, the G2 Coolmore Lexington at Keeneland, and the Victoria Park and Marine at Woodbine, defeating multiple champion Essence Hit Man. He also won the G3 Ben Ali at Keeneland as four-year-old. He is a winner on dirt, defeating G1 winner Drosselmeyer, and graded stakes placed on turf.
“We have been following Exhi’s career since he was a three‐year‐old. He comes from a tremendous stallion producing Canadian family including foundation broodmare Fanfreluche, and top sires Encosta de Lago, Holy Roman Emperor, Medaille D’or and Khelef,” said Michael Byrne. “With his stellar Polytrack form, and outstanding first foals, he is well suited to the Ontario market and w elook forward to furthering his career.”
Nephrite, undefeated as a juvenile, winning both starts by a combined 5½ lengths over 30 rivals, including the G3 JRA Killavullan Stakes at Leopardstown, is by leading sire
Pivotaland a brother to international G1 winner Cape of Good Hope.
Described by his trainer Aiden O’Brien as a “very fast horse.” Nephrite was a highly rated 116+ Timeform as a juvenile, winning his maiden in his first start at the Curragh by 4 lengths in a hand ride, his second start in the G3 JRA Killavullan he won convincingly by 1½ lengths and was quoted at 12-1 for the 2,000 Guineas. He was also placed in Loughbrown and G3 Gladness Stakes.
“Nephrite, as a Ballydoyle trained winner of the Killavullan is in the mold of our Champion first year sire Perigee Moon and leading New York sire Frost Giant. Pivotalis an emerging sire of sires and his offspring have been very successful in North America. We’re very excited to be partnering with Coolmore again, we know Aiden thought very highly of Nephrite, we expect his speed and good looks to be attractive to Ontario breeders,” Michael Byrne added.
“With the addition of two exciting stallions, Park Stud looks to build on a highly successful 2013. We are fully committed to the Ontario Thoroughbred industry and look forward to a promising future for racing in Canada.”
2014 Stud Fees
Court Vision – $10,000 LFSN
Exhi – $3,000 LFSN
Nephrite – $2,500 LFSN
Victor’s Cry – $5,000 LFSN
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