Coventry Winner Arizona Retires To Stud

Arizona has been retired from racing and will stand under the Coolmore banner at Castlehyde Stud for 2021. “Arizona is a very good-looking and good-moving son of No Nay Never who really fills the eye,” said Castlehyde Manager Paddy Fleming. “He’s got a very current, fast pedigree too, so I think he has a lot of appeal.”

Arizona won a six-furlong maiden at the Curragh by eight lengths on Irish Guineas weekend and was sent straight to Royal Ascot for the Group 2 Coventry Stakes. Described by Timeform as “the pick on looks beforehand”, he quickened up well to win from a good field which included Threat, Golden Horde, Guildsman and Royal Lytham.

In the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes, he ran a fine second to European Champion 2-Year-Old Pinatubo finishing closer to him than any other horse in his four Group/Stakes wins at two years. Timeform awarded Arizona a rating of 119, behind only the aforementioned Pinatubo and subsequent 2,000 Guineas winner Kameko.

One of seven Group 1 performers from No Nay Never’s first two crops, Arizona is a full brother to Nay Lady Nay who won a Grade 2 and a Grade 3 in the US and was third in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl Stakes at Belmont Park on her latest start. The pair are out of a half-sister to the dam of European Champion 2-Year-Old Dabirsim, who sired Group winners and Group 1 performers Different League and Coeur de Beaute from his first crop.

No Nay Never has enjoyed another fine year in 2020 both in the sales ring and on the racecourse with 5 Group/Graded winners in Europe and North America headed by Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Alcohol Free and Group 2 Park Stakes winner and 2,000 Guineas runner-up Wichita.

A fee for Arizona will be announced at a later date.