Animal Kingdom to make Australian debut at Arrowfield Open House

Australian breeders will have their first opportunity to see Dubai World Cup champion Animal Kingdom when he parades at next month’s Arrowfield Stallion Open House.

The two-time Group 1 winner has been based at HH Sheikh Mohammed’s Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket, England since 20 June, and will make a special appearance at the Darley Stallion Parade for 1500 invited guests today and tomorrow. Animal Kingdom will then join the other Darley stallions in quarantine before flying to Australia on 28 July.

Liam O’Rourke, the Dalham Hall Stud Director reports, “We’re very pleased with the way Animal Kingdom has settled in, it’s like he’s always been here. He enjoys his turn out each day and has been taking it all in his stride.

“He appears a very relaxed sort which is reflected in his good appetite, and he has gained 19 kilograms since his arrival – he hasn’t left an oat!”

Animal Kingdom retires to stud with wins or placings in four of the world’s best Group 1 races, on all three major racing surfaces, at 1600-2000 metres. He is only the second horse to complete the Kentucky Derby-Dubai World Cup double, and was beaten only by US Horse of the Year Wise Dan in last year’s record-setting Breeders’ Cup Mile G1 on turf. 

Animal Kingdom begins his stud career at Arrowfield this spring at a fee of $38,500 inc. GST, and his book already includes 12 Group 1 winners or dams of Group 1 winners. He will shuttle to Darley’s Jonabell Farm in Kentucky from 2014.

The Arrowfield stallions will parade each morning at 9.00 am from Thursday 22 August to Sunday 25 August. They will also be available for informal inspection throughout the four days – please click here for more information.