Overbrook Farm's Storm Cat (Storm Bird--Terlingua, by Secretariat), North America's Leading Active Sire by Progeny Earnings, has been retired from stud duty due to declining fertility, according to Overbrook's Manager of Stallion Operations, Ric Waldman. "It was a privilege to be able to manage all but two years of his stallion career and to see him grow in popularity, value and success from a stallion who was not desirable and not popular to the highest-priced stallion in the world," Waldman told the TDN. "A decline was expected because we saw decline last year, and obviously he's a year older. We didn't expect the precipitous decline that we saw this season. His in-foal rate last year was 70 percent, but he was erratic throughout the year." According to Waldman, Storm Cat has gotten three mares in foal this season. From 18 crops to race, Storm Cat has sired 12 champions, 32 Grade I/Group 1 stakes winners and more than $111 million in progeny earnings. He stood the 2008 season for $300,000.

Tuesday, Chantilly, France
PRIX DE GUICHE-G3, €80,000, Chantilly, 5-13, 3yo, c, 1 1/8mT, 1:52.30, gd.
1–#@TRINCOT (FR), 128, c, 3, by Peintre Celebre
        1st Dam: Royal Lights (Fr), by Royal Academy
        2nd Dam: Fire Flash (GB), by Bustino (GB)
        3rd Dam: Dazzling Light (GB), by Silly Season
O/B-Ecurie Bader; T-Philippe Demercastel; J-Christophe Soumillon; €40,000. Lifetime Record: 9 starts, 3 wins, 6 places, €92,000 . Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report and 5-cross pedigree.
2--In Chambers (GB), 128, c, 3, Oasis Dream (GB)--Cas Royaux, by Woodman. O/B-Marquesa de Moratalla; T-Mikel Delzangles; €16,000.
3--Mayweather (GB), 128, c, 3, Nayef--Misplace (Ire), by Green Desert. (€85,000 yrl ‘06 DEAAUG). O-Robert Bousquet; B-Petra Bloodstock Agency Ltd; T-Jean-Claude Rouget; €12,000.
Margins: NK, 1, 2. Odds: 2.20, 4.50, 4.90.
Also Ran: Putney Bridge, In Seclusion.
   In the money, yet winless, after six freshman starts, Trincot opened his account--at the expense of subsequent G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero Falco--in a Compiegne conditions event on sophomore return Mar. 25 and doubled his win tally in another conditions race at Saint-Cloud last time Apr. 11. Settled in fourth for most of this pattern-race bow, he made progress under pressure inside the final quarter to challenge at the distance and was ridden out in the closing stages to assert superiority in cozy fashion. "He was unable to get his head in front as a two-year-old, but he was tender and immature at the time and met some very nice horses along the way," said trainer Philippe Demercastel. "His win at Compiegne was a little flattering as I don't think the runner-up was fully wound up and we already had plenty of experience, but that form still gave him a good chance here." This race was utilised as a springboard to G1 Prix du Jockey-Club success by Lawman (Fr) last year and Trincot might point in the same direction according to Demercastel, who added, "With regard to the future, we will let his owner decide if he wants to have fun on Derby Day [at Chantilly June 1]." Click for the Racing Post chart.   

Sadler's Wells © www.coolmore.com

Legendary Sire Sadler's Wells has been retired from stud duties due to declining fertility, Coolmore Stud announced Monday. The 27-year-old son of Northern Dancer will remain at Coolmore, where he has stood since retiring to stud for the 1985 season. Sadler's Wells was champion sire in Britain and Ireland a record-breaking 14 times, including 13 years in succession. Coolmore Manager Christy Grassick said: “I think Sadler's Wells is generally acknowledged as the best sire Europe has ever seen, and we feel very privileged to have been associated with him. Despite his advancing years, he is still in remarkably good condition, and I hope he enjoys a long and happy retirement. His influence will be felt for many years to come and in Galileo (Ire), Montjeu (Ire) and High Chaparral (Ire), we are delighted to have his three best sons at Coolmore.”

Monday, Saint-Cloud, France
PRIX GREFFULHE-G2, €130,000, Saint-Cloud, 5-12, 3yo, c/f, 1 1/4mT, 2:11.60, gd/sf.
1--#@PROSPECT WELLS (FR), 128, c, 3, by Sadler's Wells
        1st Dam: Brooklyn's Dance (Fr) (GSW-Fr), by Shirley Heights (GB)
        2nd Dam: Vallee Dansante, by Lyphard
        3rd Dam: Green Valley (Fr), by Val de Loir (Fr)
O/B-Wertheimer et Frere; T-Andre Fabre; J-Olivier Peslier; €74,100. Lifetime Record: 4 starts, 1 win, 3 places, €91,900. *Full to Prospect Park (GB), MGSW-Fr & MGSP-US, $617,510. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report and 5-cross pedigree. Click for the Racing Post chart or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2--Ripple (Fr), 128, c, 3, Rock of Gibraltar (Ire)--Slipstream Queen, by Conquistador Cielo. O-His Highness the Aga Khan; B-H H the Aga Khan's Studs SC; T-Jean-Claude Rouget; €28,600.
3--Trois Rois (Fr), 128, c, 3, Hernando (Fr)--Trevise (Fr), by Anabaa. O-Alec Head; B-Alec & Ghislaine Head; T-Freddy Head; €13,650.
Margins: SNK, SNK, 1HF. Odds: 1.80, 3.70, 1.40.
Also Ran: Salsalavie (Fr), Chirango (Fr).
   Runner-up to the smart Tamayuz (GB) in a newcomers' event at Longchamp last September, Olivier Peslier helped to provide owners Alain and Gerard Wertheimer with Classic success in Sunday's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains at Longchamp and they combined with Prospect Wells (Fr) (Sadler's Wells) to repeat the dose in Monday's G2 Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud. Sent off the 9-5 second favorite, the homebred denied Ripple (Fr) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) by a short neck and will now attempt to follow up in the June 1 G1 Prix du Jockey-Club at Chantilly. "We can't really complain with the silks winning three group races in two days," commented the brothers' racing manager Pierre-Yves Bureau. "Olivier Peslier rode him with great confidence and, most certainly, he will now go to the Prix du Jockey-Club." Prospect Wells occupied the same berth behind the similarly talented Hello Morning (Fr) in a mile conditions event at this track the following month. Returning from that juvenile-season closer, he ran second once again at conditions level back at the Bois de Boulogne venue last time Apr. 10 and laid down a Classic marker by delivering a sharp burst of acceleration in the closing stages of this prestigious trial. Restrained in last early by a patient Peslier, the bay remained in rear until coaxed forward with 350 meters to go. Grabbing the ground with relish thereafter, he went through the gears under a sympathetic drive inside the final furlong and passed every rival to register an ultimately cozy victory. "Obviously the horse has come on a lot for his first run [of the year]," Bureau added. "Even though he was only a maiden, we thought it worth coming here and attempting this."

Pivotal, who is now the highest ranked stallion in England in 2008, justified that fee when his son Falco upset Saturday's running of G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains at Longchamp. Considering that he stood for less than £10,000 during his first six seasons at stud, the stallion has produced 24 group/graded winners from a total of 369 foals, an impressive 6.5 percent strike rate. Andrew Caulfield examines how Pivotal performed as a stallion along with the increase in stud fee, and the rise to prominence of Falco's dam, Icelips, as a broodmare.

Monday, Cologne, Germany
MEHL-MULHENS-RENNEN-GERMAN 2000 GUINEAS-G2, €165,000, Cologne, 5-12, 3yo, c/f, 1mT, 1:37.13, gd.
1--PRECIOUS BOY (GER), 128, c, 3, by Big Shuffle
        1st Dam: Pretty Su (Ire), by Surumu (Ger)
        2nd Dam: Pretty Procida, by Procida
        3rd Dam: Provocatrice, by Irish River (Fr)
O/B-Gestut Park Wiedingen; T-Waldemar Hickst; J-Adrie de Vries; €100,000. Lifetime Record: 5 starts, 4 wins, 1 place, €225,000. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report and 5-cross pedigree. 
2--Konig Concorde (Ger), 128, c, 3, Big Shuffle--Kaiserin (Ger), by Ile de Bourbon. O-Wolfgang Frohlich; B-Gestut Elsetal; T-Christian Sprengel; €38,000.
3--Liang Kay (Ger), 128, c, 3, Dai Jin (GB)--Linton Bay (Ger), by Funambule. O-Stall Emina; B-Ina E Zimmermann; T-Uwe Ostmann; €18,000.
Margins: 1HF,NK, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.80, 15.40, 1.10.
Also Ran: Balios (Ger), Abbashiva (Ger), Sehrezad (Ire), Solent Ridge (Ire).
   Precious Boy registered immediate success at Krefeld last July and continued on an upward curve when garnering the Listed Herzog von Ratibor-Rennen at the expense of subsequent Listed Henkel Trial victress Servenya (Ger) back at that track in September. He carried away Germany's most prestigious juvenile prize, the Oct. 14 G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten over this course and distance next time, but lost his unbeaten tag when failing by a short head against Liang Kay on his seasonal return in the Apr. 20 G3 Dr Busch-Memorial back at Krefeld. Exacting revenge on that old foe here, the homebred shadowed the leaders in fourth through the early fractions and was geared up for his bid soon after turning for home. Set alight with 300 meters remaining, he took instant control and was ridden out in the closing stages to easily assert superiority. Click for the Racing Post chart or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree.