Holy Bull pensioned from stud duty

Darley has announced that Horse of the Year, Champion, and successful sire Holy Bull has been pensioned and will retire at Sheikh Mohammed’s Jonabell Farm near Lexington, Kentucky.

A twenty-one-year-old son of Great Above, Holy Bull began his stallion career in 1996 at the Bell family’s Jonabell Farm, which was later purchased by Sheikh Mohammed.

Darley America President Jimmy Bell reflected on Holy Bull’s racing career and had this to say when asked about how Holy Bull might compare to some of the other top horses in recent memory. “He was so good, he was not a specialist. Short. Grass. Long. Dirt. Pick your best five horses. He could run with any of them.”

Holy Bull was undefeated as a two-year-old when his wins included the G1 Futurity.  At three, he enjoyed a dominant campaign which saw him crowned Horse of the Year and champion three-year-old colt.

He won five additional G1 events that year - the Travers, Haskell Invitational, and Florida Derby in addition to his runaway victory against older horses in the Woodward and again in the Metropolitan Mile.  His phenomenal final time of 1:46 4/5 in the Woodward was just off Secretariat’s track record. His career record reflected 13 wins from 16 starts, with eleven victories in stakes events.

As a stallion, Holy Bull proved to be extremely successful.  Bell further commented, “He really was a working man’s horse, if you will. Blue collar. People always had a place for a Holy Bull.”

His six individual grade one winners include Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo, champion and Breeders Cup Juvenile winner Macho Uno, now a successful sire, in addition to the young sire Flashy Bull. His average earnings per starter remains at $62,000, while his career statistics show a 70 per cent lifetime winners to starters ratio.
 
For further information, please contact Charlie Boden at Jonabell on (859) 255-8537.