Klimt Acquired by the Jockey Club of Turkey

The migration of U.S. stallions to Turkey continues with freshman sire Klimt joining a Jockey Club of Turkey roster that includes four others that previously stood in the States. Klimt is a grade 1-winning son of Quality Road that won three of eight starts, including victories in the Del Mar Futurity and Best Pal Stakes (G2) in 2016. Bred by Thor-Bred Stables and raced by Kaleem Shah, Klimt also was runner-up in the 2016 FrontRunner Stakes (G1) and 2017 Los Alamitos Derby (G3). He retired with $468,960 in earnings. Darby Dan Farm launched Klimt's stallion career at $10,000. As a freshman sire, Klimt has been represented by 22 winners and five stakes performers. He ranks sixth in his sire class by progeny earnings with $1,148,443. The deal with the Jockey Club of Turkey, brokered by Jamie LaMonica and Brendan Heeney, puts Klimt alongside expatriates Battleground, Bodemeister, Lion Heart, and Super Saver. Turkish owner/breeder Arif Kurtel also has added to his stallion barn by acquiring Sadler's Joy and War Correspondent back in September. Other previous acquisitions include Avery Island, Tizway, and Air Vice Marshal. Victory Gallop, who denied Real Quiet the Triple Crown in the 1998 Belmont Stakes (G1), is Turkey's all-time leading sire by progeny earnings at 148,739,817 lira (US$10,886,500). He is the sire of Call to Victory, who won the 2020 Gazi Derby (G1) and this year's Fatih Sultan Mehmet Stakes (G1) and International Topkapi Trophy (G2).