Telescope, sire of Supreme Novices' hero Slade Steel, relocates to Foxwood Farm

Telescope, sire of last season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle victor Slade Steel, will stand at Foxwood Farm in County Cork for the 2025 breeding season.

The Group 2-winning son of Galileo has spent the entirety of his stallion career at Shade Oak Stud in Shropshire, but he will transfer to Cork in order to allow him access to more mares, building on the success of his best performers, who are all trained in Ireland.

Donal White of Foxwood Farm said: "Telescope will suit the Irish mare population and we feel it's the right place for him to stand.

"He's known for siring horses with size and scope, and who walk well, and that's what people are looking for."

The Henry de Bromhead-trained Slade Steel is the flagbearer from Telescope's earlier crops, with the six-year-old gelding also third to Mystical Power in the Grade 1 Champion Novice Hurdle at the Punchestown festival. He has embarked upon a novice chase career this season.

In addition to that exciting prospect, Telescope's second crop contains the dual Listed handicap hurdle winner Harvard Guy, who was second in a Grade 3 novice hurdle at Clonmel on his final start last season.

Telescope's largest crop to date are his four-year-olds of this season, and he covered substantial books in his early years at Shade Oak, with some of his better-bred horses yet to take to the track.

White said: "He was well supported by British breeders with mares who were part of the Elite National Hunt Mares' Scheme. Telescope has been very consistent at the sales with his three-year-olds, and the best of them are still to come."

Telescope, whose biggest day on the track came in 2014, when coming well clear of Sir Michael Stoute-trained stablemate Hillstar in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, is out of Velouette, an unraced Darshaan half-sister to Dubai World Cup winner Moon Ballad. 

He will stand his first season in Ireland at a fee of €3,000, with concessions offered for filly foals.

The fees have also been announced for the three other stallions who reside at the north Cork farm, which has been developed by vastly experienced horseman White in recent years.

Saintgodrel, a son of the recently retired behemoth Saint Des Saints out of the very smart jumping mare Loumie, will have a fee of €2,000. The fees for Racinger and Night Wish, both useful performers around Europe, have been set at €3,000, with filly foal concessions offered for all three stallions.

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