Cool Silk Partnership’s Group 1 winner Sands Of Mali has been retired from racing and will take up stud duties at Ballyhane Stud in Ireland.
Sourced by Cool Silk and bloodstock agent Matt Coleman for £75,000 at the Tattersalls Ascot Breeze-Up Sale in 2017, the son of Panis was trained by Richard Fahey to win five races including the QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot and the Gimcrack Stakes.
Peter Swann of the Cool Silk Partnership told the Racing Post: “He’s had a bit of a tough time since he went to Meydan last year and has never been the same. He got a hock injury there, which I think played on his mind a bit, although he did run reasonably well behind Blue Point in Dubai.
“It was tough for him as the ground was very quick and he never really recovered. We didn’t get him to stud last year so brought him back and fortunately we’ve got him to stud now, where he’s next to Prince Of Lir, who did so well for us.
“He can breed with pretty much anything because he’s got no connections. He’s a beautiful-looking horse, big and strong – a perfect stallion – and we hope we can get some future success from his progeny.”
