Breeding & Racing Magazine

Chequers Stud To Stand Battle Paint

New Zealand's Cambridge-based Chequers Stud has announced the acquisition of Battle Paint (Tale Of The Cat-Black Speck, by Arch) for stud duties. Already in residence at Chequers, the 6YO stallion was a crack 2YO, finishing runner-up to Coolmore's exciting young sire Holy Roman Emperor in the Gr1 Grand Criterium (1400m) at Longchamp. That was his only defeat as a juvenile & he was ranked France's 2nd leading 2YO of his year. Battle Paint won on debut at Deauville (1300m) and again over 1400m at Longchamp prior to the Grand Criterium. Runner-up at his 1st start as a 3YO, Battle Paint started 7/2 favourite for the Gr1 French 2000 Guineas. A son of Tale Of The Cat (sire of 7 Gr1-winners & 64 stakes-winners), the new Chequers stallion is impeccably bred, being a half-brother to Gr2 winner Homebound & Gr2-placed Listed winner Blue Exit. His dam Black Speck is a half-sister to brilliant US sire Dynaformer, sire of 45 Group/Graded winners, among them Gr1 stars Barbaro, Perfect Drift, Film Maker, Riskaverse, Rainbow View & Sand Springs. Chequers Stud's Mark Fraser-Campin commented: "He's a beautiful bay horse, very correct and standing 16.2 hands. He's strong and athletic with it - we're very pleased with him." Battle Paint's 2010 fee is NZ$5,000 + GST.