Colonel John, a multiple grade 1-winning millionaire, has returned home to WinStar Farm near Versailles, Ky. The WinStar homebred stood at Jeju-do in South Korea since 2017 after a deal was made with the Korea Thoroughbred Breeders Association.
The Tiznow colt was bred by WinStar Farm and trained by Eoin Harty. He was retired to WinStar in 2009 with six wins from 15 starts and a bankroll of $1,779,012.
"I bought him back from the Koreans," said Bill Casner, WinStar's co-founder. "I wanted him back. There hasn't really been a day since we sold him to Korea that I hadn't regretted buying the syndicate out."
Colonel John arrived in Kentucky last week after quarantining for two days in Chicago. He is at WinStar's stallion barn and settling in well.
"He's doing well; he obviously had a couple days where he was tired from the trip. He's starting to feel himself, and trot off when we turn him out, and diving into the feed tub, which are all good signs," said Larry McGinnis, WinStar's stallion manager.
Colonel John's most memorable performance came in the 2008 Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, where he narrowly defeated Mambo in Seattle. With Travers excitement looming this week, his return to the United States is extra special for his team that shared those great memories 16 years ago.
"That was a huge day for Colonel John and a huge day for us," Casner said. "He won it by the width of a credit card. He got enough of his nose in front to stand in the winner's circle by himself."
"That was a hard-fought Travers, it was a train wreck down the stretch and he just kept going," added McGinnis.
No one is happier than McGinnis to have Colonel John home.
"I am very excited to have him back. In this day and age we get them in and if they don't make it, we send them out. It was special to get him back when we don't usually get them back," McGinnis said.
"Bill Casner was committed to the horse and went above and beyond to get him back and I appreciate that a lot."
Colonel John's future as a stallion is uncertain, and WinStar will take it day by day to see which route the 19-year-old will take. Although it was a small book, he was still breeding mares in Korea and is very fertile.
"He was just a really good horse, just an old friend," said McGinnis.
