Darley sire Golden Horn set for new chapter at Overbury Stud after private sale

Derby and multiple Group 1 winner Golden Horn has been purchased by owner-breeder Jayne McGivern and will begin the next stage of his career at Overbury Stud in Gloucestershire.

McGivern's operation, Oxfordshire-based Dash Grange Stud, has been notably active on the National Hunt scene of late and bought star novice Constitution Hill's dam Queen Of The Stage at a Goffs online auction in May.

It is understood that a number of studs and breeders showed an interest in taking on Golden Horn, who has been standing for the last seven seasons at Darley's Dalham Hall Stud, and a private deal was brokered through Blandford Bloodstock.

Like Sea The Stars, he was sired by the late Cape Cross and proved a champion for his owner-breeder Anthony Oppenheimer.

Bought back when offered for sale at Tattersalls Book 1, he would go unbeaten in his first five starts, which included a defeat of John Gosden stablemate Jack Hobbs - soon to be a neighbour at Simon Sweeting's Overbury - and a similarly assertive performance in the Eclipse.

Golden Horn would make amends for a narrow defeat to Arabian Queen in the Juddmonte International by claiming both the Irish Champion Stakes and the Arc, losing out only to Found on his final outing of 2015 in the Breeders' Cup Turf.

McGivern, who is an owner of both racehorses and eventers, said: "I am absolutely thrilled to have had the opportunity to buy one of the most exciting young stallions standing today.

Stag Horn is among the young jumpers to have shown promise for Golden HornCredit: Edward Whitaker

"It is especially important that we keep these horses standing in the UK, and it is brilliant news that I have been able not only to buy him, but delighted that Overbury will stand him for us.

"Blandford Bloodstock have been instrumental in securing him for me - we have been looking for the right stallion for some time, and he was certainly worth the wait. We can’t wait to see him settled at Overbury."

Blandford Bloodstock’s Richard Brown, who brokered the transaction last week, said: "I can’t recall a more brilliant middle distance performer in recent years than Golden Horn. He was an absolute star on the track for John Gosden and his team at Clarehaven. He is one of only three horses, alongside Mill Reef and Sea The Stars, to have won the Derby, the Eclipse Stakes and the Arc.

"Overbury Stud has established a fantastic reputation in recent years for both developing and making stallions under both codes. Golden Horn is a magnificent addition to their roster."

Golden Horn has had some black type success to show from his tenure as a Flat stallion, but Grade 2 hurdler Stag Horn and County Hurdle runner-up First Street have provided further evidence that he could have potential as more of a dual-purpose operator.

Overbury manager Sweeting, who now has several prospects to take over from the brilliant Kayf Tara, added: "To welcome a horse of Golden Horn’s abilty to the farm is a tremendously exciting moment.

"His statistics make for very fine reading to date. As well as ten Group or Listed winners including 28 stakes performers on the Flat, he has also made a fine start to his career as a jumps sire with his first crop five-year-olds.

"21 of his 22 National Hunt runners have won or been placed with Stag Horn his biggest winner in the Grade 2 Leamington Hurdle. Both his sire and broodmare sire have sired Grade 1-winning jumpers so he has a great deal to recommend him."

Sam Bullard, director of stallions at Darley, wished him well: "‘On behalf of both Anthony Oppenheimer and the team at Darley we want to wish both Golden Horn and his new connections the very best of luck. At Overbury he will be given the very best chance to excel over the coming years."

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