Coolmore purchase Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Golden Pal

Golden Pal's owner-breeder Randall Lowe has confirmed the sale of last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner to Coolmore, with an eye on the Nunthorpe Stakes and Breeders' Cup among the short-term plans ahead of a stallion career.

Lowe said seven entities had been bidding on the three-year-old son of Uncle Mo, but said he chose Coolmore because it had the strongest potential to later develop Golden Pal's future as a stallion.

"I've believed in this horse from day one, and it's hard selling him. Getting a champion is everyone's dream and when you get one, you want to hold onto him as long as you can," Lowe said. "But I believe he going to win another Breeders' Cup and Coolmore is the best one to further his next career."

Lowe said he did retain two lifetime breeding rights to Golden Pal in the deal initially reported by Thoroughbred Daily News. The purchase price of the colt was not disclosed.

Golden Pal is the first foal out of Graded winner Lady Shipman, who was also bred and raced by Lowe. Lady Shipman is an 11-time stakes winner who won the 2016 Royal North Stakes at Woodbine and was second in the 2015 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

Golden Pal (right): second in last year's Norfolk StakesCredit: Julian Finney

The mare has a weanling colt by Omaha Beach named Lieutenant General and returned to Ashford Stud's Uncle Mo this year.

Lowe offered Golden Pal at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and bought him back on a final bid of $325,000. At the time, Coolmore expressed interest in the colt but a deal didn't materialise, according to Lowe.

Golden Pal was eventually sent to trainer Wesley Ward. The colt finished second on debut in a five-furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park, and then went to Royal Ascot to contest the Norfolk Stakes, where he set the pace and lost by a neck to The Lir Jet.

Lowe brought Golden Pal back to the States and the colt won the Skidmore Stakes at Saratoga before delivering Lowe's first Breeders' Cup win in gate-to-wire fashion at Keeneland by three-quarters of a length over Cowan.

Golden Pal has not raced since the Breeders' Cup due to a chip discovered in a front ankle that was removed. He is expected to make his seasonal debut in the $120,000 Quick Call Stakes on opening day at Saratoga, according to Ward.

The race will be his tune-up for an anticipated start in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York in August, while a return to the Breeders' Cup is also on the agenda.

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