Farnan, brilliant all-the-way winner of the 2020 Golden Slipper and rated the most dominant two-year-old Champion of the century by Timeform, has met with a setback in training and has been retired to stud. The son of Not A Single Doubt out of a G3-winning Street Cry mare will stand at Kia Ora Stud, NSW. His fee, that will be in line with those commanded by other Golden Slipper winners in their first season at stud, will be set after the Easter Yearling Sale.
Co-trainer Adrian Bott said, “Niggling problems have interrupted our progress towards his big autumn targets, which were the Group 1 Galaxy and TJ Smith, with a possible tilt at a Royal Ascot campaign. Unfortunately, we have now run out of time. Farnan’s record as a two-year-old speaks for itself and his work at home and at the trials this preparation show that he has retained all of his superior speed as a three-year-old. Gai and I are certain that he will be a huge success at stud, and we look forward to supporting his progeny in due course.”
A $550,000 Magic Millions yearling, Farnan made an instant impact winning by five at Canberra on his mid-November debut. Victory over the Gimcrack winner in the Magic Millions 2YO Wyong Classic preceded a troubled run in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, his only defeat at two. Farnan bounced back with a resounding three-length win in the G2 Silver Slipper, which he followed with a trailblazing triumph in the G2 Todman, accounting for G1 Blue Diamond winner Tagaloa. Flashing natural speed from the gate and an impressive finishing kick, Farnan won under a hands-and-heels ride.
Farnan was still more authoritative in the $3.5m G1 Golden Slipper, breaking swiftly from a wide berth before making most of the running and resoundingly defeating Away Game. Jockey Hugh Bowman said of him, “Farnan’s a very special colt. I’ve been lucky enough to ride some really good horses over my career, but I’ve never ridden a better two-year-old.”
Farnan’s crowning victory earned him a Timeform rating of 122 and the Champion two-year-old title. In fact, Timeform assesses Farnan as the most dominant juvenile Champion of the century, fully five pounds superior to the next best youngster from his crop.
“Farnan has won all his trials as a three-year-old, and in brilliant fashion,” says Kia Ora Stud manager Shane Wright. “We were looking forward to him reclaiming his position as the leader of his generation. But he’s a fabulous stallion prospect and we’re confident he will uphold the tradition of success of Golden Slipper winners at stud. The likes of Capitalist, Pierro and Sebring show that the Slipper is the race that best demonstrates the qualities required to excel as a sire.”
Farnan descends from an exceptional speed heritage: no fewer than 14 Golden Slipper winners hail from the Danehill line, with Farnan the highest rated colt. Farnan is only the second colt from the Redoute’s Choice branch to win the world’s richest two-year-old race – the other, Stratum, himself supplied a Golden Slipper winner in his first crop.
