'The standout sprinter of recent years' - Bradsell to retire to the National Stud after Breeders' Cup tilt

Triple Group 1-winning sprinter Bradsell will stand at the National Stud in Newmarket for 2025.

The four-year-old son of Tasleet, who has been in terrific form this season, is due to bow out after a crack at the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar a fortnight on Saturday, for which he is a best-priced 7-2 second favourite with British and Irish bookmakers behind 2-1 market leader Cogburn.

Bradsell was a stunning nine-length winner at York on his debut as a two-year-old in May 2022 and followed up by winning the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. 

He returned to the royal meeting as a three-year-old last summer to win his first Group 1, defeating Highfield Princess in the King's Stand Stakes under Hollie Doyle, who has partnered him on 11 of his 12 starts.

Bradsell has enjoyed his best campaign for trainer Archie Watson and owners Victorious Racing this term, landing a Listed race at Deauville on his belated reappearance in August before two brilliant top-level victories in the Nunthorpe and Flying Five Stakes. 

He was a valiant second to Makarova in the Prix de l'Abbaye this month, when the very soft ground would not have played to his strengths. He is unlikely to encounter such a surface in California as he bids to end his career in a blaze of glory.

Bradsell after his Nunthorpe victory at YorkCredit: GROSSICK RACING

Bradsell was bred by Deborah O'Brien out of the Listed-winning Archipenko mare Russian Punch and was well found at 12,000gns by Highflyer and Harry Dunlop at the Tattersalls Somerville Sale. 

He was moved on to Blandford Bloodstock for £47,000 at the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale from Mark Grant. 

Anna Kerr, CEO of the National Stud, said: “We're delighted to welcome Bradsell and stand him in partnership with Sheikh Nasser’s Victorious Racing. He's the standout sprinter of recent years, with a great physical. We're looking forward to presenting him to breeders at the December sales.”

Oliver St Lawrence, racing manager to Victorious Racing, said: "Bradsell has been an exceptional flagbearer for Sheikh Nasser, winning every top sprint race and showing his incredible toughness, tenacity and sheer will to win. The sheikh is looking forward to supporting him with mares at stud and in the sales ring in the future.” 

Watson added: "Bradsell has so much speed, so much class and is so tough. He's a pleasure to do anything with and is just so good over five furlongs. If he puts an ounce of that into his stock, I’m looking forward to training them."

A stud fee will be announced after the Breeders' Cup.

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