Justify, the Champion 2YO Sire in North America and sire of outstanding Australian 2YO colt Storm Boy, won’t be returning to stand at Coolmore Australia this spring and will remain at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Kentucky where he will cover a select book of mares to southern hemisphere time late in the year.
“It’s a similar situation to Frankel in England where they serve mares to southern hemisphere time,” said Coolmore’s Tom Magnier.
“We will be sending up some of our best mares and some of our clients here will have the opportunity to send their mares to him too.
“Many of the mares that might have visited Justify here have already been booked into our Golden Slipper winner Shinzo whose retirement was announced a few days ago,” added Magnier. “We have had a fantastic response to him from our clients.”
The Triple Crown winner Justify has enjoyed a sensational last twelve months in both hemispheres with Storm Boy and Learning to Fly in Australia and 5 Group/Grade 1 winners in Europe and North America headed by 2023 Champion Two-Year-Old City of Troy, the short-priced favourite for the 2,000 Guineas and Epsom Derby.
Justify yearlings have been in strong demand in Australia this year with highlight colts from Crystal Fountain and Invincible Star both selling for $1.3million at Inglis Easter and Magic Millions respectively.
He covered 188 mares in Australia last spring at a fee of $77,000 so there will be high anticipation for what may well be his last ever Australian conceived crop of foals.
