Queen’s Plate and Barbados Gold Cup winner SIR DUDLEY DIGGES is returning to Ontario to stand at stud, having been purchased Wednesday, Nov. 18 at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale by owner and trainer Cole Bennett.
Sir Dudley Digges (Gio Ponti – My Pal Lana by Kris S.) has not raced since June of 2019 and was offered at Keeneland by owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey who had over 100 horses consigned and sold some 40.
The Queen’s Plate winner of 2016 brought a bid of $6,700 from Bennett who plans to stand the earner of $939,690 (US) at his farm in Orangeville for 2021.
“We plan to offer bonuses to 2-year-old maiden special winners [by Sir Dudley Digges) and eligible mares will be able to stay and be bred free of charge in the spring, no board costs,” said Bennett, who has partners in the stallion.
Bred by Bernard and Karen McCormack and trained by Mike Maker, Sir Dudley Digges provided the Ramseys with their first Queen’s Plate victory when the dark bay won the Plate at 1 1/4 miles at Woodbine at 15 to 1, his second career win. The horse was also second in the third jewel of Canada’s Triple Crown, the 1 1/2 mile Breeders’ Stakes on turf.
At four, Sir Dudley Digges won the Old Friends Stakes on the grass at Fair Grounds and in March 2018 invaded Barbados and won the Sandy Lane Gold Cup at 1 1/8 miles on turf. He placed in three other stakes races. He retired with 7 wins in 32 starts.
GIO PONTI (Tale of the Cat) won the Breeders’ Cup Classic and is sire of Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Drefong among others.
His dam, My Pal Lana, is a multiple stakes winner of over $465,000.
The Ramseys also sold former Ontario sire and stakes winner WE MISS ARTIE, sire of Woodbine stakes winner Artie’s Princess, for $6,500 for William Nicks.
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