Poetic Flare, winner of this year’s 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes, has been retired ahead of a stallion career at the Shadai Stallion Station in Japan.
In a testament to his constitution, Jim Bolger’s homebred colt has run in the frame in seven of his eight starts this season. He was in action early, striking in the 2,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown before a thrilling victory in the 2,000 Guineas, in which he nosed out Master Of The Seas. He went on to compete in the French and Irish 2,000 Guineas, running a close second to stable-mate Mac Swiney in the latter, after which he turned in a brilliant performance to win the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot by a wide-margin.
Although he didn’t win again, he ran with great credit on his remaining three starts, finishing second in the Sussex Stakes and Prix Jacques Les Marois and then third in the Irish Champion Stakes on his first start beyond a mile.
Poetic Flare was also an accomplished two-year-old who won the first Irish juvenile maiden of the year at Leopardstown and the Killavullan Stakes back at the same track later in the season.
In all, he won five of 11 starts for £1,048,463 in prize-money.
Poetic Flare is by far the best performer sired by former Darley stallion Dawn Approach, a fellow Bolger-bred who was trained by the master handler to win the 2,000 Guineas and Dewhurst Stakes. He is out of the Rock Of Gibraltar mare Maria Lee, also the dam of Listed winner Glamorous Approach, and from the further family of Group 1 sire Teofilo.
The Yoshida family’s Shadai Stallion Station is home to 31 stallions including the leading sires Lord Kanaloa, Kizuna and Harbinger. Last year’s Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Siskin is another recent European recruit.