'His greatest attribute was his tenacity and his will to win' - Isaac Shelby retired to Newsells Park Stud

Top miler Isaac Shelby has been retired and will stand at Newsells Park Stud for a fee of £7,000.

Brian Meehan produced the Night Of Thunder colt to notable victories in the Superlative Stakes as a two-year-old and then last season's Greenham Stakes. He was beaten a short neck in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and is the first son of his illustrious sire to stand at stud.

After his Greenham win, he was switched from Manton Thoroughbreds into the ownership of Wathnan Racing. The Qatar operation is keeping hold of him at stud.

Meehan said: "Isaac Shelby is one of the smartest horses I’ve ever trained. He oozed style and class throughout his racing career. His win in the Superlative Stakes was impressive, but his performance in the Greenham was sublime.  

"His greatest attribute was his tenacity and his will to win. I have been privileged and proud to have trained him and look forward to training his progeny in the future."

Isaac Shelby, who was bred by Elaine Chivers and sold at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale, was later second to Kinross in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood and runner-up on his final career outing in the Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein.

Julian Dollar, general manager at Newsells Park Stud, said: "We’re delighted to be standing the first son of Night Of Thunder to retire to stud. Isaac Shelby was hugely talented – even better than his sire at two and a proper Guineas horse too. 

"I can’t wait to show him off to breeders: he's great-looking, very athletic and has a wonderful temperament. We’re very grateful to the team at Wathnan and look forward to supporting him strongly.”

Richard Brown, Wathnan's racing manager, added: "Isaac Shelby was a hugely talented horse who so nearly got Wathnan off to a dream Group 1 start when second in the French Guineas, the very first runner in the Wathnan silks.  

"He's a fine horse by a very special young stallion and we'll be very keen to see all his offspring when they come to market."

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