Group 1 winner Way To Paris off to Coolagown Stud after Japan Cup adventure

Way To Paris, winner of this year’s Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, will retire to Coolagown Stud in County Cork after running in the Japan Cup at the end of the month.

Trained by Andrea Marcialis for owner Paolo Ferrario, the son of Champs Elysees has been one of Europe's leading middle-distance horses of recent years.

In addition to his Group 1 strike, he has won the Grand Prix de Chantilly by four and a half lengths and the Prix Maurice de Nieuil, both Group 2s, while he was beaten just a head by subsequent Arc winner Sottsass in the Prix Ganay before his victory in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.

High-class, durable and consistent, Way To Paris also finished second last year to subsequent Arc winner Waldgeist in the Prix Foy. So far he has won six of his 34 races for earnings in excess of £550,000.

Pierre-Charles Boudot, who steered Way To Paris to victory in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and Grand Prix de Chantilly, said: "He's a strong horse who stays well and has a great turn of foot. He's a beautiful individual, a handsome grey with a lovely coat and a powerful physique.

"He's a determined horse who handles all types of going. His biggest strength is his acceleration in a finish."

The seven-year-old holds significant appeal on pedigree, being by the beautifully bred multiple Grade 1 winner Champs Elysees, whose Flat progeny include Gold Cup hero Trip To Paris and Classic-winning filly Billesdon Brook.

The sire was tremendously popular in his two seasons standing in the Irish National Hunt ranks until his premature death in 2018.

Way To Paris is also a half-brother to dual Group 1 winner Distant Way out of the Group 2-winning Cozzene mare Grey Way, and hails from the family of leading sires Private Account and Woodman, and Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver.

Way To Paris will stand for €3,500, with a filly concession of 50 per cent, with the deal brokered by agent Richard Venn, who said: "Way To Paris had been on my radar for some time. As you can imagine, we had to fight off determined interest from several French studs, so to start off his stud career in Ireland is a real coup for Irish breeders. He could be very interesting for Flat mares as well.

"His introductory stud fee reflects what is going on in the world and the ramifications it is having on our industry."

He added: "I would also like to extend my thanks and appreciation to Paolo Picchi - Mr Ferrario’s manager - who has made the dream a reality."

Coolagown Stud manager David Stack said: "I’m very grateful to Mr Ferrario for entrusting Way To Paris to Coolagown. When you speak to breeders they are looking for tough, honest, sound and consistent horses, and Way to Paris epitomises all these traits. If his offspring inherit even a hint of his class and durability then he will be a top-class sire.

"He’s also a gorgeous-looking horse who stands 16.1 hands and has a wonderful temperament. I can’t wait to show him off to breeders.”

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