Henrythenavigator retires to Ashford Stud
With four consecutive Gr.1 victories over a mile to his name, Henrythenavigator has powerful claims to being considered Kingmambo's fastest son.
It is therefore exciting news for the American breeding industry that Coolmore has decided to base this Breeders' Cup Classic runner-up at Ashford Stud, rather than Ireland.
Henrythenavigator has just about every quality needed to make him a true asset to the American industry – great looks, peerless bloodlines, precocious speed, outstanding miling ability, soundness, courage and a strong preference for fast ground.
As a two-year-old he matured so quickly that Aidan O'Brien was able to start him on May 6, when he landed his maiden over seven furlongs by an impressive seven lengths.
A drop back to six furlongs for the Gr.2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot was no problem and he easily defeated 19 opponents to win in record time.
This spring in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on good going, he was the only horse capable of matching strides with the champion two-year-old New Approach, before his acceleration proved decisive, Raven's Pass was back in fourth.
A rematch with New Approach on firm ground in the Irish 2,000 Guineas three weeks later saw Henrythenavigator win much more easily.
After the race his trainer Aidan O'Brien revealed “When you have a horse that shows so much speed at home you are never sure they are milers until you see them doing it. He was brilliant today and he showed his devastating turn of foot which makes really good horses so special.”
Henrythenavigator then stuck to a mile winning the Gr.1 St James's Palace Stakes (also in record time) and the Gr.1 Sussex Stakes, on both occasions beating the subsequent Breeders' Cup Classic winner Raven's Pass with his speed and courage.
It is worth adding that Kingmambo also won the St James's Palace Stakes, having earlier won France's equivalent to the 2,000 Guineas, so there are strong similarities between father and son.
On his final start, Henrythenavigator showed his liking for a synthetic surface when he ran a huge race to finish second to Raven's Pass in the Breeders' Cup Classic-Gr.1.
Henrythenavigator is out of Sequoyah, a Gr.1-winning juvenile by Sadler's Wells and the Kingmambo/Sadler's Wells cross has established itself as one of the world's most reliable sources of top performers, with the brilliant French filly Divine Proportions and the Japanese superstar El Condor Pasa also bred this way.
Henrythenavigator's dam Sequoyah is a full-sister to the Gr.1 winning champion two-year-old filly Listen. She is also a sister-in-blood to Gr.1 Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Saffron Walden and Gr.1 E.P. Taylor Stakes winner Insight.
Ashford Stud manager Dermot Ryan commented “It's great to have a horse of Henrythenavigator's class and bloodlines retiring here.
"Twice he won in record time at Royal Ascot, twice he beat Epsom Derby winner New Approach, three times he beat Raven's Pass and four times he won at Gr.1 level.
"He is also rated an even better miler than his sire Kingmambo and is out of a Gr.1 winning 2-y-o by Sadler's Wells. His conformation is excellent too so basically he's the complete package.”
Henrythenavigator is now available for inspection and his fee will be announced at a later date.
- Coolmore Release
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