A multiple Group One winner, Belardo was an outstanding two-year-old whose
juvenile season culminated in an explosive victory in the Newmarket Dewhurst
Stakes (7f) which saw him crowned Champion 2YO of Europe in 2014. However, it was arguably last season's victory in the Group One Lockinge Stakes at four, that was his finest moment leaving no less than eight Group One performers in his wake, seeing him retire with a Timeform rating of 126.
A debut winner at two, Belardo built towards his Dewhurst victory with a four-length demolition of his rivals in the Listed Washington Singer Stakes (7f) at Newbury before capturing his first Group One.
His three-year-old season was tinged with what could have beens – fourth in the Irish 1000 Guineas less than two lengths behind Gleneagles, 3rd in the Challenge Stakes and an agonisingly close second in the Group One Queen Elizabeth at Ascot – saw Belardo given the rare opportunity for Group One winning colts to continue his racing career as an older horse.
Belardo's four-year-old season saw him kick off with a win in the Listed Doncaster Mile, with his preparation gaining momentum before his triumph in the Group One Lockinge Stakes (1m) where the beaten brigade included Group One winners Limato, Toormore and Euro Charline.
A return to Ascot in June saw Belardo put in the best male performance of Royal Ascot 2016 when a closing second in the Group One Queen Anne Stakes (1m) to the outstanding American mare, Tepin.
Haunui will once again join forces with Darley to bring Belardo to New Zealand, the continuation of a partnership that has been so successful with Iffraaj (GB) (Zafonic).
Haunui Farm's Managing Director Mark Chitty says, "We are very excited to have been offered the opportunity to stand Belardo and look forward to joining forces once again with Darley to introduce another exciting young sire to the New Zealand stallion ranks.
"We've had great success with Iffraaj and will follow a very similar strategy in getting Belardo's stud career off to the best possible start here in New Zealand.
"We have been looking to source a new stallion for a number of seasons and when Belardo became available, it was an easy decision to make. We are grateful to Sheikh Mohammed and his team for giving us the opportunity to stand Belardo at stud and look forward to assisting in the development of his stallion career as we have with Iffraaj."
Godolphin's Managing Director in Australia, Henry Plumptre says, " On behalf of Sheikh Mohammed and everyone at Godolphin, we are delighted that Champion two-year-old Belardo will stand at Haunui Farm in 2017.
"As a dual Group One winner and grandson of the prolific sire Shamardal, we hope that Belardo will be embraced by New Zealand breeders in the way that they have supported Iffraaj.
"Darley's continuing support of the New Zealand industry is based on the success of New Zealand-bred horses on the race track at the highest level and is endorsed by Sheikh Mohammed. Belardo joins a growing number of Darley stallions in New Zealand and we wish Haunui and their clients every success with him."
Belardo will stand at Haunui Farm in 2017 for a fee of $12,000 + GST. For more information, please contact Mark Chitty – 021 663 995 – or Shannon Taylor – 0212 855 513.
