Arrowfield Stud announced March 24 that the two-time group 1 juvenile winner Vandeek by Havana Grey will shuttle to Arrowfield in Australia from Cheveley Park Stud in the United Kingdom in 2025.
Arrowfield's chairman John Messara said, "He's a great-looking, unbeaten champion 2-year-old by a brilliant young stallion—that all makes Vandeek an attractive prospect for us, especially in light of the Australian market's enthusiasm for stallions like Too Darn Hot and Wootton Bassett, with top-class European 2-year-old sprint form."
Described as "a pure ball of speed" by jockey James Doyle, Vandeek raced exclusively at six furlongs and won all four of his starts at 2, beginning with his striking debut at Nottingham where he recovered from missing the start by four lengths to win by a length going away.
A fortnight later he stalked the pace and unleashed in the final furlong to score impressively in the Richmond Stakes (G2) at Goodwood Racecourse. That performance confirmed a start in the Prix Morny (G1) at Deauville, where Vandeek met and defeated some of the best juveniles of France, England, and Ireland. Again, he settled comfortably behind the speed and after a momentary check, picked up in brilliant style to chase down the favorite, subsequent group 1 winner Ramatuelle.
Vandeek was then set for Newmarket's Middle Park Stakes (G1), which he claimed in breathtaking fashion, taking control of the race a furlong out and sprinting clear to win by more than two lengths.
Named the champion 2-year-old colt in France, he returned at 3 to finish third in both the Sandy Lane Stakes (G2) at Haydock and, like Danehill, the July Cup Stakes (G1) at Newmarket before a minor injury ended his racing career.
Vandeek's co-trainer Simon Crisford said after his retirement, "His amazing turn of foot set him apart from the others. He had a wonderful temperament and he was such a great pleasure to train. His Juddmonte Middle Park victory was sensational and I don't think I've seen a better winner of that race ... He was pure class."
Vandeek is the best performer to date by European sire sensation Havana Grey, whose 22 stakes winners have successively made him Europe's leading first-, second-, and third-season sire.
A specialist 1,000-meter sprinter, Havana Grey is from the Sadler's Wells sire line that is proving so effective in Australasia, thanks to Dundeel and his sons Castelvecchio and Super Seth, So You Think, Tavistock, and Toronado.
Vandeek's dam Mosa Mine is out of Baldemosa, whose half sister, group 1 winner Balbonella, is the dam of champion sprinter and leading dual-hemisphere sire Anabaa, and 1997 French One Thousand Guineas (G1) winner Always Loyal.
Bred and reared by the boutique Welsh farm Maywood Stud, Vandeek topped the 2023 Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale when sold for 625,000 guineas ($815,386) to HH Sheikh Khalid Al-Khalifa's KHK Racing.
Arrowfield bloodstock manager Jon Freyer, who inspected Vandeek at Cheveley Park earlier this month, said, "Vandeek is a stunning individual, combining athletic strength and quality. He has a great girth, shoulder, and hip, and a super masculine head. He looks very much what he was—fast! He's like a silver bullet."
Vandeek has received excellent first-season support from British and European breeders and Cheveley Park is sending him 22 mares, including dual group 1 winner Integral and group 1 producer Zykina.
Vandeek's 2025 fee at Arrowfield has been set at AU$22,000 (US$13,860) and the stud will be giving him strong support from its broodmare band.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
