Mill Reef winner Kessaar to take up stallion duty at Tally-Ho Stud in 2019

Mill Reef Stakes winner Kessaar has concluded his brief racing career and will take up stallion duties alongside his own sire, Kodiac, at Tally-Ho Stud for the 2019 breeding season.

The move, which was brokered by Hugo Merry Bloodstock, represents something of a homecoming for Kessaar, as not only is he by Tally-Ho flagbearer Kodiac, but he was also bred by the County Westmeath-based operation.

"We are delighted that Kessaar, one of the best two-year-olds sired by Kodiac, will be returning to Tally-Ho as a stallion," said the stud's Roger O'Callaghan. "He's a good-looking, tough horse with the juvenile speed so typical of his sire and we look forward to him contributing to Kodiac's legacy."

Watch: Kessaar's Mill Reef Stakes success

Trained by John Gosden and raced by Mohammed Al-Qatami and Khalid Al-Mudhaf, Kessaar ran seven times and returned victorious on three occasions. He broke his maiden by ten lengths in a Windsor novice stakes before going on to score by two and a half lengths in the Group 3 Sirenia Stakes on the all-weather at Kempton.

He will be best remembered for his success in the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes on what proved to be his penultimate outing, as he showed a likeable attitude to pull two and three-quarter lengths clear of True Mason.

He brought the curtain down on his racing career with a fourth-place finish behind Royal Meeting in the Criterium International.

"From the moment we saw Kessaar as a yearling at the sales we thought that he was an exceptionally good-looking colt with correct conformation, and very athletic," said co-owner Khalid Al-Mudhaf. "He's never taken a lame step, always had a good mind and has proven himself versatile ground-wise, winning on good to firm, soft and the all-weather.

"We have retained an interest in Kessaar and will obviously be supporting him with our broodmares."

Kodiac: Kessaar is one of 23 Group winners by the Tally-Ho Stud linchpin

One of 23 Group winners by record-breaking two-year-old sire Kodiac, Kessaar is the second foal out of the unraced Raven's Pass mare Querulous, making him a brother to the useful two-time winner Breaking Records.

In turn, the dam is out of the German Group 3-placed mare Contentious, whose siblings include the dual Grade 2 winner Gone Astray. Further back this is the family of US champion older mare Inside Information.

He was signed for by Hugo Merry at 100,000gns at Book 2 of the 2017 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Tally-Ho.

Kessaar joins the Tally-Ho roster, which comprised of Kodiac, Galileo Gold, Mehmas, Vadamos, Cotai Glory and Morpheus in 2018.

He also adds to the growing number of sons of Kodiac at stud, a list that includes the likes of Ardad (standing at Overbury Stud), Adaay (Whitsbury Manor), Coulsty (Rathasker Stud) and Kodi Bear (Rathbarry Stud).

A fee for Kessaar and the other Tally-Ho stallions will be announced at a later date.

More stallion news:

Scat Daddy son Daddy Long Legs snapped up to stand at Taylor Made

Champion Cracksman to stand at Darley's Dalham Hall Stud in 2019

Tweenhills-bound Zoustar sires Group 1 trifecta in Coolmore Stud Stakes