Unbeaten Champion 2YO joins Arrowfield’s 2025 roster
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.
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.”
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.
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.
