Last year's G1 Prix Morny and G2 Coventry S. winner The Wow Signal (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) has been retired from racing and will enter stud at Swettenham Stud in Australia later this year before standing Northern Hemisphere-time at owner Sheikh Joaan's Haras de Bouquetot in France. The Wow Signal will debut at Swettenham this year alongside Sheikh Joaan's Group 1-winning miler Toronado (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Trained by John Quinn, The Wow Signal was purchased privately by Sheikh Joann's Al Shaqab Racing after breaking his maiden by nine lengths on debut at Ayr, and subsequently took Royal Ascot's Coventry and Deauville's Prix Morny. He finished last of nine in the G1 Jean-Luc Lagardere in October and was withdrawn from the G1 2000 Guineas after suffering a setback in the week before the race.
“We are very sad that The Wow Signal has had to be retired,” said Al Shaqab's Racing Advisor Harry Herbert. “It is always disappointing when a horse like this is prevented from reaching his full potential. His 2-year-old form has emerged as some of the best in the world, and I have no doubt that he would have gone on to be an exceptional 3-year-old.”
Haras de Bouquetot's Benoit Jeffroy added, “We're delighted to continue our partnership with Swettenham Stud. It will be very exciting for the Australian industry to welcome the first son of Starspangledbanner to retire to stud. We will look forward to stand The Wow Signal here in France in 2016.”
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