No Nay Never colt Land Force recruited to Highclere Stud stallion roster

Land Force has become the first son of highflying young sire No Nay Never to be announced as joining the stallion ranks, with Highclere Stud standing last season's Richmond Stakes winner from 2020.

Trained by Aidan O'Brien for the Coolmore partners, Land Force was a precocious performer, winning at the Curragh on his second start at two and going on to finish a close third in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot and claim a Listed success at Tipperary.

He put up his best effort at Glorious Goodwood, when showing plenty of dash to see off the classy performers Marie's Diamond, Shine So Bright and Konchek to register a length victory in the Richmond Stakes.

Land Force also ran with credit in the Prix Morny but made only one start at three in Australia, where he was known as King Of Yulong, due to an injury that forced his early retirement.

Ryan Moore, who steered the colt to his Group 2 victory, said: “Land Force was a brilliantly fast two-year-old, which he proved when winning the Richmond.

“He was also very unlucky not to win the Norfolk as we were drawn on the wrong side.”

Land Force is one of 15 northern hemisphere-bred stakes winners by No Nay Never, a son of the late stallion sensation Scat Daddy, alongside Middle Park Stakes and July Cup hero Ten Sovereigns and Group 2-winning juveniles Arizona and Mystery Power.

He was bred by Evie Stockwell out of the Group 3-winning Rock Of Gibraltar mare Theann, who has also produced dual US Grade 1 winner Photo Call.

Theann is in turn out of the highly gifted sprinter Cassandra Go, making her a half-sister to Classic heroine Halfway To Heaven, who in turn is the dam of top-flight winners Flying The Flag, Magical and Rhododendron.

Furthermore, Cassandra Go is a half-sister to the late popular sprint sire Verglas.

Land Force's price tag of €350,000 at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale in 2017 pays tribute to his physique.

Highclere Stud's Jake Warren said: “He has many of the same attributes as our leading first-season sire Cable Bay.

"We're big fans of No Nay Never and believe Land Force’s incredible precocity, high class two-year-old form, stonking good looks and outstanding pedigree give him an excellent chance of producing high-class two-year olds.”

The introductory covering fee for Land Force will be announced at a later date.

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