Cover image courtesy of Coolmore Stud
Gstaad (GB) (Starspangledbanner) is a half-brother to Arrowfield’s newest shuttling stallion, Vandeek (GB), who is set to stand his first season at Arrowfield Stud at a fee of $22,000 (inc. GST).
The son of Havana Grey (GB) was a Champion 2-year-old in his own right, and now boasts a Group 2 Royal Ascot-winning juvenile half-brother - an achievement that only enhances his appeal to breeders. The Thoroughbred Report caught up with John Messara of Arrowfield Stud to discuss how the market has reacted to Vandeek ahead of the upcoming breeding season.
Gstaad storms to Group 2 glory in the Coventry
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Starspangledbanner colt Gstaad (GB) caught the eye when winning on debut at Navan on 17 May over 1200 metres, defeating his highly rated stablemate True Love (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}) by three-quarters of a length.
Following that performance, the colt, who cost MV Magnier 450,000 guineas at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale from breeder Maywood Stud, started as a well-backed favourite for the prestigious Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Ridden by Ryan Moore, he scored a dominant 3 length victory, making it two wins from as many starts following his debut success last month.
“Gstaad looks a very good horse, doesn't he? We've always loved him. He had only had the one run. He has always worked like a good horse,” trainer Aidan O’Brien told media after the race.
“He's big, he's scopey, he has a good stride and is very genuine; he goes with his head down and he has loads of speed. He looks like he will get further than six [furlongs].”
“He's (Gstaad) big, he's scopey, he has a good stride and is very genuine; he goes with his head down and he has loads of speed. He looks like he will get further than six (furlongs).” - Aidan O'Brien
Gstaad is the second stakes winner amongst six winners for Mosa Mine (Exceed And Excel), further back in the family is the former successful shuttling stallion Anabaa (USA).
John Messara commented on the victory:
“It was a pleasant surprise, it is a very good family, but that win fills in the page nicely.
“It was a very compelling victory, he won very well, it was quite a facile win in the end, and he looks like he could go on with it.”
“It was a very compelling victory, he (Gstaad) won very well, it was quite a facile win in the end, and he looks like he could go on with it.” - John Messara
Gstaad is the 53rd stakes-winner for Starspangledbanner, who was a Group 1 winner at Royal Ascot himself back in 2010. The Royal Ascot connection doesn’t stop there, Starspangledbanner’s sire Choisir was the first Australian-trained horse to have success at the Royal Ascot meeting.
Vandeek, the lightning-fast addition from Europe
Vandeek (GB), the G1 Prix Morny winner and France’s Champion 2-year-old colt, was announced in March as the newest addition to the Arrowfield Stud roster for 2025. He will shuttle from Cheveley Park Stud (where he stood for £15,000) to stand his debut Southern Hemisphere season at a highly accessible fee of $22,000 (inc. GST).
Vandeek was unbeaten in four juvenile starts, claiming both the G2 Richmond Stakes and the G1 Middle Park Stakes in addition to his Prix Morny success. With blistering speed and Group 1 form at two, he adds sharpness, precocity and an exciting new dimension to the Arrowfield lineup.
Vandeek winning the G1 Middle Park Stakes | Image courtesy of Arrowfield Stud
“He fills a gap in our roster, he’s an out-and-out Champion 2-year-old, a very good-looking horse from a rising bloodline,” said Messara.
“We have had very good support, and we will support him heavily also. We have a 150-mare maximum limit on the stallion, and I imagine we will have no trouble getting there at all.”
“He (Vandeek) fills a gap in our roster, he’s an out-and-out Champion 2-year-old, a very good-looking horse from a rising bloodline.” - John Messara
An admirable sireline
Vandeek brings a new and potent branch of the Sadler’s Wells (USA) sireline to Australasia. His sire is on a sharp upward trajectory in the Northern Hemisphere, and Vandeek is well placed to carry that momentum forward in Australia.
“He is by a very exciting stallion in Havana Grey, and he gets stakes winners from anything.” Messara said.
Havana Grey (GB) | Standing at Whitsbury Manor Stud
Havana Grey boasts British Champion Sire Dark Angel (Ire) as his damsire, with influential Green Desert (USA) as second damsire, the latter being the root of the Invincible Spirit (Ire) sireline that has already flourished in Australasia. It’s a family featuring stakes winners across three continents, including G2 Hungerford Stakes winner Richard Pankhurst (GB) (Raven’s Pass {USA}).
A member of the great Sadler’s Wells (USA) sireline, Havana Grey is a great-grandson of Galileo (Ire), a line familiar and compatible with the Southern Hemisphere broodmare population.
International blood and a physique to match
The pedigree on Vandeek’s damline was already impressive, even before recent developments. His damsire Exceed And Excel needs no introduction for his accomplishments across Australasia.
Vandeek’s second dam is Baldemosa (Fr) (Lead On Time {USA}), whose half-sister Group 1 winner Balbonella (Fr) (Gay Mecene {USA}) is the dam of champion sprinter and leading dual hemisphere sire Anabaa (USA), as well as G1 French 1000 Guineas winner Always Loyal (USA) (Zilzal {USA}). It all builds to create an impressive specimen.
“Vandeek is a grand looker, a very masculine horse, good size and he was explosive,” Messara said.
“Vandeek is a grand looker, a very masculine horse, good size and he was explosive.” - John Messara
“We sent Jon Freyer over to look at him and he was very impressed. All of the references, whether it be his trainer or jockeys, were very positive about the type of horse he is.”
Arrowfield are always on the lookout for the next champion to grace their stallion ranks; their success over the years with international stallions such as Danehill (USA), Hussonet (USA), and Maurice (Jpn) is proof of their ability to unearth something truly special and out of the ordinary.
John Messara | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Messara believes Vandeek could really suit a wide mix of Australian bloodlines:
“I think he will suit a wide range of Australian blood, but interestingly the winning colt (Gstaad) is a grandson of Danehill, being by Choisir. So it has already proven that Danehill can go with Danehill in that family and be successful, as his mother is an Exceed And Excel mare.
“Initially, we thought we might stay away from the Danehill mares, but this opens up options as it looks like it will be no problem getting a 3x3 cross, or a 3x4 cross or something similar. That may open a few people’s eyes on how they can breed him with it already having success.”
Vandeek (GB) | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
Vandeek will stand for $22,000 (inc. GST), a price point Messara believes is appealing given the stallion’s pedigree and race performance.
“I think it’s a very competitive fee for a horse of his calibre and credentials,” he added.
“I do feel he will make an impact way above the price he is standing at.”
“I think it’s a very competitive fee for a horse of his (Vandeek) calibre and credentials, I do feel he will make an impact way above the price he is standing at.” - John Messara
Going by the manner of Gstaad’s victory it would be no surprise that by the end of the season there is a major Group 1 pedigree update, as he looks to have massive scope and potential, which will only aid Vandeek’s popularity going forward.
