'It's a dream come true' - dual St Leger winner Eldar Eldarov to stand at Chapel Stud

Chapel Stud has announced that dual St Leger winner Eldar Eldarov has joined its stallion ranks for 2025. The deal was brokered by Richard Venn Bloodstock.

The beautifully bred son of Dubawi was a five-length winner on his sole two-year-old start for Roger Varian and KHK Racing before landing his next two starts at three, headed by the Group 2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot. 

He went on to land the St Leger by two lengths and followed up in the Irish equivalent the following year, beating the brilliant Kyprios by three and a half lengths. The six-year-old was set to run in 2024 but sustained a serious neck injury after rearing and striking his head in the stalls after being disturbed by a rival kicking his stall before the Dubai Gold Cup in March. 

Crowned three-year-old champion European stayer in 2022, he retires with five wins and a second from ten starts. Eldar Eldarov will stand for an opening fee of £5,000. 

The horse was bred by Kirsten Rausing and had sold to Mags O'Toole and Oak Tree Farm for £110,000 at the Goffs Orby Sale before being hammered down to Oliver St Lawrence for £480,000 at the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale in Doncaster in 2021. 

Eldar Eldarov hits the front at Royal AscotCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Eldar Eldarov is the third foal out of triple Listed winner All At Sea, a Sea The Stars half-sister to Alwilda, the dam of 2022 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Alpinista, and fellow black-type winners Algometer and Alignak. They are in turn out of three-time German Group 1 heroine Albanova, a sister to dual Champion Stakes winner Alborada. 

Roisin Close of Chapel Stud said: “Firstly, I would like to thank His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa for entrusting us with Eldar Eldarov. I'm delighted to be able to bring a horse of this calibre to British breeders. Bred by Lanwades Stud, one of the best in the business, he boasts a pedigree full of top-class racehorses and producers.

"He was an exceptional athlete, and had it not been for a freak accident, he would most likely be out of my league. It is no secret he suffered a potentially life-threatening injury in Dubai, and it is thanks to his owner’s dedication to his recovery that he is now able to stand at stud. With his welfare a priority, we will be limiting his mare numbers. We will also be offering a limited number of breeding rights."

"I keep having to pinch myself - having a champion three-year-old stayer and dual Classic winner standing at Chapel Stud is a dream come true!"

On behalf of KHK Racing, Oliver St Lawrence added: "Eldar stood out as a colt for the future at the breeze-ups especially with his fabulous Kirsten Rausing pedigree stuffed with Group 1 winners like the tough Alpinista. His will to win, guts and ability are what defined him."

Read more

'What makes him so exciting is that his dam just doesn't miss' - our horses to follow in 2025 

Top-class racehorse and sire Westerner retired from stud duties at Castlehyde Stud