Earthlight retired to take up stallion duties at Kildangan Stud

Earthlight, who annexed both the G1 Darley Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park Stakes during a brilliant two-year-old season, has been retired from racing and will stand at Kildangan Stud, Ireland, in 2021.

Trained by Andre Fabre, the Shamardal colt completed a superb six-furlong G1 double during an unbeaten 2019, bravely taking the Darley Prix Morny at Deauville before lowering the juvenile course record at Newmarket with a scintillating win in the Middle Park Stakes.

He ended the year as Champion juvenile in France and joint-second in the European two-year-old classifications behind another outstanding son of Shamardal, Pinatubo.

Earthlight missed the early part of the 2020 campaign but made an impressive return to action in the Listed Prix Kistena at Deauville in July prior to a close fourth at the Normandy course in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest, won by Space Blues (Dubawi).

Stepped up to seven furlongs at Longchamp for his final two starts, Earthlight displayed his trademark superb acceleration to capture the G3 Prix du Pin before going down by a neck to One Master in the G1 Prix de la Foret on Arc weekend.

Lisa-Jane Graffard of Godolphin said: “Earthlight has been the most wonderful horse to be around. He was far superior to his rivals at two, showing a decisive turn of foot in his two G1 wins, while his demeanour was always one of calm self-assurance.

“He has been a wonderful flagbearer for Godolphin, from a family that has been nurtured for generations, by the late Shamardal and out of a New Approach mare. He showed class and courage in his races and will be a great asset to the Darley stallion roster.”