'He still thinks every horse that comes into the breeding shed is for him' - Freud retired from stallion duties aged 26

A lot has changed in the breeding and racing landscape in New York since the turn of the century. One constant, however, has been the long shadow of Freud, a full-brother to three-time national leading sire Giant's Causeway, who has stood at Sequel Stallions since 2002.

His reign among the New York leading sires will continue for a few seasons yet, but the grand old man has covered his last mare. The 26-year-old son of Storm Cat has earned his retirement.

"As the years have gone by, he's bred fewer and fewer mares, but he still thinks every horse that comes into the breeding shed is for him," said Sequel Stallions' Becky Thomas. 

"He bred a dozen mares [in 2024] and I think all but one is in foal. His fertility is great — he is a consummate professional in the breeding shed — but he's old.

"He's been great. I call our farm 'the farm that Freud built.' He continues to be that horse. So many stallions are euthanised before his age, but knock wood, he's in great health."

Represented as recently as August 25 with Showcase Day stakes winner Dakota Gold (out of Dakota Kid, by Lemon Drop Kid), Freud is the sire of 74 black-type stakes winners, 18 of which stepped out to win at Graded stakes level. He has sired 1,496 foals from 22 crops, and his runners have earned more than $74 million. That's quite an accomplishment for a 'regional sire'.

Freud earned his first title as leading sire in New York by progeny earnings in 2008. Subsequent titles arrived in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Freud, along with Giant's Causeway, is out of the Rahy mare Mariah's Storm. Bred by Orpendale, an arm of the Coolmore operation, Freud arrived on February 22, 1998, a year behind Giant's Causeway. 

Giant's Causeway, a Group 1 winner at two, became the legendary 'Iron Horse' at three with a run of five Group 1 victories from June 20 to September 9, 2000. After a runner-up effort in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, he shipped to Churchill Downs and battled Tiznow, going down by a neck in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Mick Kinane and Giant's Causeway are beaten into second by Tiznow in the Breeders' Cup ClassicCredit: Andy Lyons

An international success as a sire, and sire of sires, while standing in both Ireland (his first season) and the United States, he died in April 2018 at the age of 21. At the time of his passing, Giant's Causeway was the sire of 178 stakes winners (104 Graded/Group winners). By September 2024, that number swelled to 196 stakes winners.

Freud, racing for Sue Magnier and Michael Tabor, and trainer Aidan O'Brien, was given the same opportunities as Giant's Causeway but was less effective on the track. He ran in a pair of Group 1s at two, finishing fifth both times, and at three won once and placed third at Royal Ascot in the Cork and Orrery Stakes.

By Coolmore's standards, Freud wasn't cut out to stand in Ireland or at Ashford Stud, their Kentucky facility. Thomas was able to negotiate with Coolmore's Paul Shanahan to stand Freud. 

"The New York breeding programme was 'something new and interesting for Coolmore to try," according to Thomas.

Standing for $5,000, Freud got 33 foals in his first crop, 2003, and they proved they could run from the get-go. He had nine juvenile winners and from the first crop, 19 of 27 starters would earn at least one victory, and three would become stakes winners. He had five stakes winners in his second crop that comprised 55 named foals.

"New York was just getting 'operational' at that time," said Thomas. "Freud becoming Freud was great fun. There were not near as many stallions in New York back then and he had his pick of the litter.

"Most of the people at the time did not go to Kentucky. They bred to New York stallions and did everything in New York."

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