Alicia Wincze Hughes on horse racing

In the wake of news last month that Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner I’ll Have Another had been sold and would stand stud in Japan, there has been a groundswell of interest and debate about horses standing overseas.

To that end, Jen Roytz, marketing director for Three Chimneys Farm, was kind enough to share an update on champion and former Three Chimneys stallion Arazi. Arazi, as many recall, scored what remains one of the most visually stirring Breeders’ Cup wins in his history with his breathtaking move in the 1991 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. The son of Blushing Groom has gone from has gone from England to the U.S, to Japan to Sweden to Australia as a stud.

Here is the update on Arazi as posted on the Three Chimneys Facebook page:

Arazi lives as a pensioner at Independent Stallions in Victoria, Australia, but he’s been a globe trotter from day one. Arazi was born in America, but began his racing career in France, winning six of seven races before coming back to the States and winning the 1991 Breeders; Cup Juvenile. Arazi went back to France after the Breeders’ Cup to prepare for a run in the Derby, but finished eighth to Lil E. Tee. He raced four more times after that win, retiring as a four-time Grade/Group 1 winner with a record of 14-9-1-1, earnings of just over $1.2 million, and titles of Eclipse Champion Two-Year-Old in America, European Champion Two-Year-Old Male, and European Horse of the Year in 1991.

Arazi retired to stud originally at Sheikh Mohammed’s Dalham Stud in England, and later Sheikh Mohammed relocated Arazi to Three Chimneys. Arazi’s travels didn’t end there, as he was relocated to Breeders Stallion Station in Japan in 1997, then moved to Gestut Sohrenhof in Switzerland in 2003 to stand for one season before moving to the Southern Hemisphere to Mike Becker’s Independent Stallion Station in Australia.

Arazi

Arazi’s fertility was on the decline and, at the end of the 2011 breeding season, the farm made the decision to call it a career and retire Arazi from stud duty.

“He’s in great form, very bright and active,” said Mike Becker of Independent Stallion Station. “He’s cheeky, yet loves attention and is quite the character. He has a penchant for apples and will sniff through your pockets until he finds them and makes his displeasure known if you forget them. He has a home for life with us.”

Arazi’s paddock is adjacent to another Independent Stallion Station pensioner, Brief Truce, a fellow Kentucky-bred-turned-international traveler. Arazi also has a pasture of mares in a second adjacent paddock and Mike explained that the only time Arazi gets upset is if his girlfriends go out of sight.

“We still get a while lot of interest about Arazi from the US,” said Mike. “We’ve sent locks of his mane or tail, shoes, or bridles and get emails almost weekly from people interested in his welfare. It’s safe to say I’ve never had a stallion with a bigger, more widespread fan base. We’re proud to have him and will make sure he has every care for his life.”