High-class performer Armory set to stand at Mapperley Stud in New Zealand

Mapperley Stud has announced they have secured the high-class Armory to commence stallion duties at their Matamata property for the 2022 breeding season.

The New Zealand stud has joined forces with Windsor Park Stud to acquire the Group 1-performed and multiple Group-winning son of Galileo. Armory, who was trained by Aidan O'Brien, retires to stud a winner of five races from his 16 starts, amassing nearly £1 million in prize-money.

A precocious two-year-year-old, Armory won three of his first four starts, including the Futurity Stakes at the Curragh and the Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown.

He was then tested at the highest level in the National Stakes, where he finished second to champion two year-old Pinatubo.

Armory’s seven-start two-year-old season concluded with placings in both the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and Criterium International in France.

Armory after winning the Futurity Stakes at twoCredit: Patrick McCann

A Classic campaign that commenced with a fourth in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and concluded with a runner-up finish in the Cox Plate resulted in Armory crowned champion three-year-old in Ireland and joint champion three-year-old in Europe in the intermediate category.

Mapperley Stud principal Simms Davison said: “We are thrilled to have secured Armory with our good friends at Windsor Park. We have a great history of working together and both our studs are looking forward to getting behind this high-class son of Galileo.

“We are strong believers that the Cox Plate form represents the best of the best, especially for stallions retiring to stud in New Zealand, as we’ve seen with champion sire Savabeel.

“It’s the ultimate weight-for-age test and in his only Australian start Armory demonstrated his brilliance and Group 1 ability to beat many of the best horses in the southern hemisphere.”

A fee for the 2022 breeding season will be announced shortly.

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