A HIGH-CLASS middle distance performer who won group races at Royal Ascot, York and Goodwood, the handsome Snow Sky is located at Ballycurragh Stud in Co Carlow, together with proven jumping sire Alkaadhem. He has an excellent first crop of at least 45 foals born in 2017, including a half-brother to Cheltenham Grade 1 star Summerville Boy.

A very well-bred son of champion Nayef, whose four Group 1 triumphs included the Champion Stakes and the Juddmonte International, Snow Sky is a full-brother to the classic winner Ice Breeze, who scored in the Group 1 Prix Royal-Oak, the Group 2 Prix Hocquart and the Group 2 Prix Chaudenay in France in 2017.

Their dam is a half-sister to Group 1 heroes Meteor Storm (Manhattan Handicap) and Polish Summer (Dubai Sheema Classic), while the next dam is an own-sister to another pair of Group 1 stars, Raintrap and Sunshack, both of them winners of the Prix Royal-Oak for Juddmonte.

Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, Snow Sky was lightly raced as a two-year-old, being placed on his first two starts, but then winning a maiden race at Salisbury by 11 lengths. Stepping up in class the next season, he won the Listed Derby Trial Stakes at Lingfield in May by two lengths from subsequent Group 1 star Hartnell.

Then, after a fourth behind Eagle Top and Adelaide in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, he added the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood in July. Snow Sky was a clear second best to Postponed in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes at York in August, with the third horse eight lengths behind him, before running a close third to Kingston Hill in the Group 1 St Leger at Doncaster.

In 2015 Snow Sky was an impressive winner of his first two starts, initally defeating Brown Panther in the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup over 14 furlongs at York in May, then going on to Royal Ascot, where he stormed away with the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at a mile and a half, almost four lengths clear of Eagle Top and Postponed after making most of the running.

He ended his racing career in Australia, with a close fifth of 18 in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup and then disputed the lead two furlongs from home in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup, only to be bumped and snatched up just inside the final furlong. Timeform assessed Snow Sky on 124, above such stars as Night Of Thunder and Sole Power.

SNOW SKY (GB), Bay 2011. Won five races, £490,061, from 1 mile to 1 mile 6 furlongs, 2 to 4 years including, Betway Yorkshire Cup, York, Gr.2, Hardwicke Stakes, Ascot, Gr.2, Neptune Investment Gordon Stakes, Goodwood, Gr.3, betfred.com Derby Trial Stakes, Lingfield Park, L, also placed 2nd Neptune Great Voltigeur Stakes, York, Gr.2, and 3rd Ladbrokes St Leger Stakes, Doncaster, Gr.1.

Retired to stud in 2016; first crop now yearlings.

Stands at: Ballycurragh Stud, Ballycurragh, Rathoe, Co Carlow, Ireland.

Contact: Willie or Jim Murphy

Telephone: +353 (0) 59 9148621

Email: ballycurragh@gmail.com

Fee: On application