In a surprise move, this year’s Middle Park S. (Eng-G1) winner DARK ANGEL
(Acclamation) has been retired to stand at Morristown Lattin Stud in Ireland.
Following the gray’s ninth placing in Newmarket’s Dewhurst S. (Eng-G1) last
month, the decision was made to send the juvenile to stud before his Classic
season. Owned by Catherine Corbett and Christopher Wright, and trained by Barry
Hills, he was the winner of four of his nine starts. He took the St Leger
Yearling S. at York in August, defeated Richmond S. (Eng-G2) and recent
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf fourth Strike the Deal (Van Nistelrooy) in Newbury’s
Mill Reef S. (Eng-G2) in September and captured Newmarket’s Middle Park the
following month.
“The sale came through his trainer, Barry Hills, who was approached by the
stud,” Corbett explained to the Racing Post. “He wouldn’t have run in a
Classic next year. It was felt he would be a six-furlong specialist and it’s
very hard for a three-year-old who has won a Group 1, so selling him wasn’t
really a wrench.”
No fee has been set for Dark Angel, who will stand alongside Definite Article
(GB), Desert Style, Kris Kin and Camacho at the Naas operation in County
Kildare.