St Leger hero Logician to stand at Shade Oak Stud next year

British National Hunt breeding has landed a coup with the acquisition of the 2019 St Leger winner Logician.

The grey son of Frankel, who also landed that season's Great Voltigeur Stakes, joins Peter and Emma Hockenhull's Shropshire operation after a deal was completed with his owner-breeders Juddmonte. His fee will be announced at a later date.

Peter Hockenhull said: "The purchase of Logician is the culmination of a four-year search to bring another top-class stallion prospect to Shade Oak, one with all the qualities needed in a champion National Hunt sire. Logician ticks every box.

"He is by Frankel, the best racehorse I have ever seen and now succeeding his own sire, Galileo, as the world’s best stallion, from a black-type mare that has bred six winners from six runners, including four black-type horses, and is herself half-sister to Cityscape and Bated Breath.

"He stands 16.2hh with great bone, plenty of strength and substance, a lovely walk and a fantastic temperament.

"He won the Great Voltigeur on only his fourth start and the St Leger on his fifth, in a record time, whilst easily beating top-class rivals such as Sir Ron Priestley, Nayef Road, Sir Dragonet and Il Paradiso."

Logician, who won his next race at Doncaster after a year's absence after the Leger, did not have a clear run as an older horse.

Peter Hockenhull (left) is excited by Logician's prospectsCredit: Sarah Farnsworth / Goffs UK

Hockenhull continued: "Sadly, John Gosden’s ambitious plans for Logician’s four-year-old campaign had to be abandoned after a life-threatening attack of peritonitis and pleurisy at the end of his three-year-old year, so he was unable to show just what he was innately capable of as a mature horse.

"However, I am encouraged that Juddmonte were keen to retain breeding rights in the horse for use on their own mares, so I look forward to some high-class runners by him not only over jumps but also on the Flat.

"I am extremely grateful to the Abdullah family for supporting British breeding by selling Logician to a stud in this country, and to Grant Pritchard-Gordon of Badgers Bloodstock, whose long-term
association with Juddmonte, Prince Khalid’s family and this pedigree helped us greatly in this transaction."

Logician, who was Frankel's first Classic-winning son, landed all five starts at three and earned a fond send-off from Gosden, who formerly trained the outstanding jump sires Flemensfirth, Presenting and Shantou.

Gosden said: "Logician was still improving when he won the St Leger, quickening in the style of his sire. We planned a major Group 1 campaign over ten and 12 furlongs as a four-year-old - he was that good - but unfortunately illness got in the way.

"But as well as a fantastic physique and tremendous stride, Logician has a great mind – nothing fazes him and he puts everything into his racing. He has all the ingredients to be an outstanding dual-
purpose sire."

Juddmonte’s racing manager Barry Mahon added: "From the start Logician was a special horse, a standout yearling among the Juddmonte crop that year.

Logician's trainer John Gosden said he had all the attributes to be a stallionCredit: Edward Whitaker

"His size, strength and beautiful action, combined with good conformation, had everyone excited from an early stage and he didn’t disappoint. His unbeaten three-year-old season ended with a dominant victory in the St Leger.

"Unfortunately, an illness later that year left him fighting for his life, but the same guts and determination he showed on the track thankfully helped him pull through.

"We have no doubt he was one of the very best middle-distance horses around. Being by Frankel, and given his exceptional physique and performance, Logician is a huge asset to British breeding.

"Shade Oak has guided many top-class stallions through their careers and I’m sure they have another top-class prospect on their
hands."

Logician joins a Shade Oak roster which includes Dartmouth, Telescope and Scorpion, and Hockenhull urged British breeders to give him consideration.

"At Shade Oak we stand only stallions that we really believe in; we stand them for the long-term and we support them with our own mares," he said.

"Our shareholders in Logician share this vision and will also be sending him top-class mares.

"I am immensely excited by his prospects; he has all the qualities I have long sought in a National Hunt stallion – pedigree, performance, size, conformation, walk and temperament. He is virtually impossible to fault."

He added: "The Great British Bonus and NH Elite Mares Schemes, championed by the Thoroughbred Breeders Association and supported by the Levy Board, are transforming the prospects for British breeders, making it possible for studs here to purchase stallions of the quality of Logician.

"For British breeders there is simply no need to send mares abroad in search of top-class stallions. Instead, support the ones standing right here and be eligible for 100 per cent GBB bonuses!”

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