EARTHLIGHT, winner of the Group 1 Prix Morny and Group 1 Middle Park Stakes, has been retired from racing and will stand at Kildangan Stud next year.

Trained by Andre Fabre, the son of Shamardal remained unbeaten in his juvenile year, posting five wins, two at Group 1 level.

He broke his maiden at Maisons-Laffitte last June, before reappearing two weeks later to win easily over six furlongs at Deauville, beating subsequent Group 1 Criterium International winner Alson. Stepped up to Group 3 level for his next start, Earthlight was even more impressive, winning the Darley Prix de Cabourg by four lengths.

With three Royal Ascot winners lining up, together with the Richmond Stakes winner and future Group 1-winning sprinter Golden Horde, last year's Darley Prix Morny was an excellent renewal. This high-class line up proved no barrier to Earthlight as he outbattled Raffle Prize to record his first top-flight victory. The pair were well clear of the rest of the field. He then went on to take the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket, recording a new juvenile course record in the process.

Earthlight was duly crowned French Champion juvenile at the end of this superb campaign.

2020 has of course been an unprecedented year, meaning Earthlight did not make his three-year-old debut until July, where he extended his unbeaten run to six and added another Black Type win to his record in the Listed Prix Kistena. He was then a close fourth (beaten just a length by Dubawi’s Space Blues) in the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest before successfully tackling seven furlongs for the first time in the Group 3 Prix du Pin.

Earthlight concluded his career by finishing second in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret on Arc day, beaten just a neck by One Master.

As well as being by sire of sires Shamardal, Earthlight hails from an outstanding female family. His dam Winters Moon was third in the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile and is herself a half-sister to two Group 1 winners.

Sam Bullard, Director of Stallions said, “We are delighted to be able to offer Earthlight to breeders in Ireland next year.

“During his unbeaten juvenile campaign, Earthlight’s victories in the Prix Morny and Middle Park were truly outstanding and his Champion status at the end of that year was very well deserved.

“The loss of Shamardal in April left a big hole in the roster, but we are confident that his sons, Earthlight and Blue Point, will continue his legacy admirably in Ireland.”.

MORE BLOODSTOCK NEWS IN THE IRISH FIELD NEXT WEEKEND