Cover image courtesy of Coolmore
Written by Georgie Dennis
Coolmore stalwart Choisir has been pensioned from active stud duty aged 21.
The son of Danehill Dancer (Ire) was a champion sprinter for trainer Paul Perry, having won on debut in the Listed Breeders’ Plate and placing at stakes-level on nine occasions.
He took out the 2003 G1 Lightning S. before embarking on an international campaign that saw him win the G2 King’s Stand S. (now a Group 1) and G1 Golden Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot before finishing second to Oasis Dream (GB) in the G1 July Cup at Newmarket.
He then returned to Australia and began his stallion career at Coolmore and began shuttling to Europe the following year, where he would stand four seasons at Castle Hyde Stud and six at Coolmore Ireland.
He is responsible for 97 stakes winners including 11 Group 1 winners such as 2015 G1 Coolmore Stud S. winner Japonisme, G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Divine Prophet and G1 Champagne S. winner The Mission.
His Northern Hemisphere progeny include four-time Group 1-winning Haras de Bouquetot resident Olympic Glory (Ire), G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Obviously (Ire) and G1 Middle Park S. winner The Last Lion (Ire) who now stands at Darley’s Kildangan Stud.
As a broodmare sire, Choisir has 18 stakes winners and four Group 1 winners including this year’s July Cup winner Oxted (GB) (Mayson {GB}).
While he won’t be directly available to breeders anymore, his bloodlines are still available through several sire sons standing in Australia with the most obvious being dual hemisphere Group 1-winning sprinter Starspangledbanner who resides at Rosemont Stud.
Starspangledbanner | Standing at Rosemont Stud
“Choisir was a wonderfully tough and talented racehorse who did great things for the Australian industry by winning two races in a week at Royal Ascot in 2003,” Coolmore’s Tom Magnier said.
“He has been a great stallion at Coolmore for many years, siring stakes winners from each of his 14 Southern Hemisphere crops and 11 individual Group 1 winners amongst 97 stakes winners worldwide.
“Even in 2020 his yearlings sold for up to $450,000 and we are hopeful that his 100th stakes winner is just around the corner (currently on 97 stakes winners).
“He has developed into a leading broodmare sire and successful sire of sires, so we will be seeing his name in pedigrees for many years to come.
“He is happy and healthy and will live out the remainder of his days in the stallion barn at Coolmore where he loves his routine.”
