Arrowfield Announce Unbeaten G1 2YO Vandeek

Media Release - Tuesday March 25

Arrowfield Stud is proud to announce that the two-time Group 1 2YO winner Vandeek (Havana Grey-Mosa Mine by Exceed and Excel) will shuttle to Arrowfield from Cheveley Park Stud, UK in 2025.

Vandeek (GB) is headed for Arrowfield this spring.

Arrowfield’s Chairman John Messara says, “He’s a great-looking, unbeaten Champion two-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 & Wootton Bassett, with top-class European two-year-old sprint form.”

Advertisement

Described as “a pure ball of speed” by jockey James Doyle, Vandeek raced exclusively at 6 furlongs (1200m) and won all four of his starts at two, 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 S. G2 at Glorious Goodwood.

That performance confirmed a start in the Deauville Prix Morny G1, where Vandeek met and defeated the best juveniles of France, England & Ireland. Again, he settled comfortably behind the speed and after a momentary check, picked up in brilliant style to chase down the favourite, subsequent Group 1 winner Ramatuelle.


Vandeek was then set for the Newmarket Middle Park S. G1 which he claimed in breath-taking fashion, taking control of the race a furlong out and sprinting clear to win by more than two lengths.

Named the Champion 2YO Colt in France, he returned at three to finish third in both the Haydock Sandy Lane S. G2 and, like Danehill, the Newmarket July Cup G1 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 stakeswinners have successively made him Europe’s Leading First, Second & Third Season Sire.

A specialist 1000-metre 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 & Super Seth, So You Think, Tavistock & 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 French 1000 Guineas G1 winner Always Loyal.  

Bred and reared by the boutique Welsh farm Maywood Stud, Vandeek topped the Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale when sold for 625,000 guineas to HH Sheikh Khalid Al-Khalifa’s KHK Racing.

Vandeek stands at Cheveley Park in the UK.

Arrowfield’s Bloodstock Manager Jon Freyer, who inspected Vandeek at Cheveley Park earlier this month, says, "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."

Jon adds, "Vandeek has a flawless two-year-old record including 1200-metre Group 1 wins on both soft and good ground. Importantly, he was able to back up quickly between runs, travel to France and perform at the highest level and win on all types of going.  However, the quick ground he struck for his dazzling performance in the Middle Park seemed his preference as it complemented his superb action."

Cheveley Park Stud’s Managing Director Chris Richardson said, "Joint owners, KHK Racing and Cheveley Park Stud are delighted Vandeek is to be made available to breeders in the southern hemisphere and will be standing at Arrowfield Stud, one of Australia’s leading thoroughbred stud farms. Vandeek is being the ultimate professional this season and I am truly excited by the quality of his first book of northern hemisphere mares."

Vandeek has received excellent first-season support from British & European breeders and Cheveley Park is sending him 22 mares, including dual Group 1 winner Integral & Group 1 producer Zykina.

Vandeek’s 2025 fee at Arrowfield has been set at $22,000 inc. GST, and the Stud will be giving him strong support from its own broodmare band.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Monday October 6
Here is the full list of 38 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
City of Troy Confirmed for Coolmore Australia- Fee Set
Unbeaten European Champion 2YO and three-time Group One-winning European Champion 3YO, City Of Troy (USA) will join the Coolmore Australia stallion roster in 2025 to carry on the legacy of his sire Justify.
Caulfield Guineas Hero Griff to Stand at Larneuk Stud
The Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas - an honour roll that reads as a who's who of high class racehorses and successful stallions... Vain, Grosvenor, Redoute's Choice, Lonhro, Starspangledbanner, All Too Hard, The Autumn Sun, Ole Kirk and Super Seth just to name a few.
Tara Talks Racing – John Kelly of Newhaven Park Our Guest
Newhaven Park Stud is a family run farm on the south west slopes of NSW that has been producing thoroughbreds for a century and the Kelly family have bred many champions and now Autumn Glow has added her name to their hall of fame.
One to Watch - Warwick Farm
Tassort produced an impressive winner at Warwick Farm on Monday carrying the Trilogy Racing colours that looks well up to a far better grade than this public holiday Monday meeting.
Vinery Announce 2025 Fees - Ole Kirk Headlines
Vinery Stud has announced its 2025 stallion roster, featuring an outstanding line-up of proven sires and rising stars, headlined by the exceptional Ole Kirk, who will stand at an increased service fee of $99,000 inc. GST following a sensational debut at stud.
Kiwi Bred War Machine Secures Everest Slot
The NZB Ready to Run Sale is never short of graduates flying the flag on Group One stages in Australia. With the 2025 edition at Karaka now less than six weeks away, War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel) has put his hand up to continue that trend this spring.
Rising HK Star for Embellish
Bulb General continued his electric form in Hong Kong to bring loftier targets into play for the son of Embellish.
Darley Announce 2025 Fees
Darley have announced fees on their powerful roster of 14 stallions split between NSW and Victoria with Broadsiding set to join the team at Kelvinside in the Hunter Valley at a fee of $66,000.
Wootton Bassett G1 Double on Arc Day
The shattering loss of Wootton Bassett (GB) has been highlighted at Longchamp in France on Arc Day where the champion sire added two new Group I winners to his tally in 2YO colt Puerto Rico and the former Aussie owned 3YO colt Maranoa Charlie.