2019 Coventry Stakes (G2) winner Arizona is the latest stallion to join the exodus to Turkey, with the 7-year-old son of No Nay Never moving from Coolmore's Castlehyde Stud to Yigit Stud in a deal brokered by Michael Shefflin.
Arizona had his first runners this year and the listed Star Appeal Stakes winner Right And True was his best performer, with the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt winning twice and finishing placed on three occasions.
Arizona's first crop, bred on a €7,000 fee, has yielded seven winners from 28 runners. He is second only to Sands of Mali in the ranks of Irish-based first-season sires, on winners, earnings, and stakes winners.
Refik Yigit, owner of the eponymous farm where Arizona will stand, said: "We're very happy that Arizona has been brought to our country. As a son of No Nay Never, one of Europe's leading stallions, Arizona truly has a champion's pedigree.
"With his dam line's stamina and his sire line's speed, we believe he'll be very successful in Turkey."
Arizona is out of the English Channel mare Lady Ederle and was a €260,000 (US$297,388) purchase by M.V. Magnier at Arqana's 2018 August Yearling Sale. Trained by O'Brien, he was a precocious juvenile and after his Royal Ascot success would go on to be placed at the highest level behind Pinatubo in the Vincent O'Brien National (G1) and Dewhurst (G1) stakes.
His year-older sister is 2019 Mrs. Revere Stakes (G2T) winner Nay Lady Nay. Their dam Lady Ederle is a half sister to Rumored, dam of 2011 Prix Morny (G1) winner and sire Dabirsim.
Having covered large books of mares in 2023 and 2024 of 180 and 129 respectively, this may not be the last we see of Arizona in western Europe. It will not be the last we see of Yigit Stud either.
"After bringing Authorized back to Ireland with our friend Ger O'Neill last year, we're very happy to have brought Arizona to our country this year with our friend Michael and we plan to continue increasing our collaborations between Turkey and Ireland in the coming years," said Yigit.
Shefflin has been busy brokering stallion deals this autumn, with Arizona one of five stallions he has been involved in purchasing; the others include Twilight Son, to stand at his own Anshoon Stud in Kilkenny.
"It's been a hectic season and it's a lot of stallions to move," said Shefflin. "We've had plenty of inquiries about Twilight Son, he's quite a commercial prospect and we're hoping he'll be ready for viewing for the Irish Stallion Trail."
Shefflin has also purchased former Tally-Ho sire Inns of Court to stand at Razza dell'Orso in Italy for 2025, and, for Turkey, Speak In Colours.
Kuroshio is the other member of the quintet Shefflin has brokered a deal to move, and he too could be set for foreign climes having been at Starfield Stud for the past five seasons.
