Saudi Poetry (Storm Cat–Gone to Venus, by Gone West), a graded stakes winner of nearly $600,000, has been pensioned at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown, KY. The 22-year-old mare was donated by former trainer Jeff Morris and his friend, the critcally acclaimed author Laura Hillenbrand.
Originally purchased for $1.7 million by The Thoroughbred Corp. at the 1998 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, Saudi Poetry broke her maiden first time out for trainer Bob Baffert, posted a first black-type success in the 2000 Torrey Pines S. and added a maiden graded win in the GII Louisville Breeders' Cup S. at Churchill Downs. She would go on to add the GIII Fleur de Lis S. at the same venue and was retired with five wins from 15 starts.
A $2.2-million KEENOV purchase when offered in foal to Silver Deputy-that sire's champion Silverbulletday appears under Saudi Poetry's second dam-she realized $2 million in foal to Unbridled's Song two years later at KEENOV. But her produce failed to reproduce her talent and in 2017, she was offered at the OBS Winter Mixed Sale, at which point Morris and Hillenbrand stepped in and retired her.
“We're deeply grateful to Old Friends for welcoming her,” said Morris. “I know of no better place on Earth for horses, and it's a gift to Saudi Poetry and to my family that you've honored her in this way. She's a special horse, and has touched our lives. We love her and want only for her safety and happiness, and now we know she has those things forever.”
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