GI Breeders' Cup Mile hero Tourist (Tiznow–Unbridled Melody, by Unbridled's Song) has been retired from racing and will stand the 2017 breeding season at WinStar Farm in Versailles, KY. WinStar, Gary Barber and Adam Wachtel, who campaigned the Bill Mott trainee on the track, will partner with Don Alberto Corp. on his stud career. The WinStar homebred will command a fee of $12,500, stands and nurses.
“It's a special feeling to bring Tourist home to stud after winning the fastest Breeders' Cup Mile in its 33-year history,” said WinStar President & CEO Elliott Walden. “When you think about all the great milers–from fillies like Miesque, Goldikova, and Tepin, to horses like Lure, Royal Academy, Cozzene, and Wise Dan–that have participated in the Mile, it makes us extremely excited to launch the next chapter of Tourist's career.”
Walden continued, “He has always possessed all the best attributes of Tiznow, who we're convinced is going to be an important sire of sires. We have long believed Tourist and Gemologist had what it took to carry on the sire line, and we're seeing that now with Gemologist and his first 2-year-olds. When breeders see Tourist for the first time on the end of a shank, they'll see what I'm talking about. Physically, he's a terrific blend of Tiznow's size and strength, with Unbridled's Song's quality and balance. WinStar will heavily support Tourist with our broodmare band.”
A stakes winner at three and four for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, Tourist was second in the 2014 GI Secretariat S. and a close third in the following year's GI Shadwell Turf Mile. He had his best season in 2016, finishing third in the GI Maker's 46 Mile and second in the GI Shoemaker Mile before annexing Saratoga's GI Fourstardave H. in August. A wide-trip third in the Shadwell Turf Mile Oct. 8, the 5-year-old bested superstar and defending Mile winner Tepin (Bernstein) at Santa Anita Nov. 5, stopping the timer in 1:31.71.
Tourist earned $2,170,340 from a record of 18-6-3-4.
“We are extremely excited about the opportunity to participate in Tourist and with WinStar, and we already have several broodmares lined up to go to him,” said Fernando Diaz-Valdez, advisor to Chile and Lexington-based Don Alberto Corp. “Tourist beat nine Grade I winners from all around the world in the fastest Breeders' Cup Mile ever run, so we see him as a horse that will have tremendous international appeal.”
Barber, who purchased an interest in Tourist privately in 2014, added, “This is one of the best horses I have ever owned, and I look forward to supporting him at stud.”
Tourist is a half-brother to SW/GSP Michael With Us (Bluegrass Cat), 2016 stakes-winning juvenile Harlan's Harmony (Spring At Last) and SW Mountain Music Man (Bluegrass Cat). He hails from the family of graded stakes winners One Mean Man (Mizzen Mast) and Mizz Money (Mizzen Mast), Japanese champion Hishi Akebono and Japanese Group 1 winner Agnes World.
“I am so proud of this talented racehorse because of all the hard trips he has had over his career,” Bill Mott offered. “Tourist has been a Grade I talent for the last three years, and I am honored he has gone to the top of the class in his generation by becoming a Breeders' Cup champion.”
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