Gayego Retires to Canada

Grade 1-winning millionaire Gayego will enter stud in 2012 at the Hunderup family’s Norse Ridge Farm near King City, Ontario. Gayego comes to Canada through an arrangement brokered by Bernard McCormack’s Cara Bloodstock and will stand for an introductory fee of $6,500 Canadian funds, payable when the foal stands and nurses.

A multiple graded stakes winner of $1,751,120, the son of Gilded Time – Devil’s Lake, by Lost Code, raced at 2 and 3 for Cubanacan Stables and trainer Paulo Lobo before Godolphin acquired him privately prior to his 4-year-old season. At 2, Gayego was a precocious front-running 3-length winner in his 6-furlong career debut at Hollywood Park. At 3, he set a new track record at Hollywood Park, winning the 6 ½-furlong San Pedro S. by 2 ¾ lengths in 1:13.07 before leaving California for a victory the $1,000,000 Arkansas Derby.

Gayego made 5 starts in the Godolphin colors at 4, winning three times including the Grade 1 Ancient Title S. at Santa Anita – going 6 furlongs in 1:08.28 – and the Group 3 Mahab Al Shimaal Dayjur S. In his other two outings at 4, he ran second in the Group 2 Etisalat Godolphin Mile on Dubai World Cup Day and fourth, beaten a neck for first, in the $2,000,000, Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint.