Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, G1) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) winner Henri Matisse has retired from racing and will stand at Coolmore in Ireland for 2026.
Henri Matisse was not only the fastest winner of the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, but also the only Classic-winning miler by the late Wootton Bassett.
A son of the brilliant race filly and broodmare Immortal Verse, Henri Matisse was quick to show his own talents, striking on debut at the Curragh last May. He notched up a brace of group 2 victories in the Railway Stakes (G2) and Futurity Stakes (G2) before finishing a half-length second in the National Stakes (G1). In those group 2 victories, he accounted for subsequent top-flight scorers Arizona Blaze, Hotazhell, and Scorthy Champ.
He went on to capture his own top-flight success at 2 with a late-running victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar last November.
Henri Matisse won on his seasonal reappearance this year in a Leopardstown Guineas Trial and went on to capture classic success at Longchamp, starting as a short-priced favorite and breaking the track record for a cozy score. He was also second in the St James's Palace Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot to Field Of Gold, beating Two Thousand Guineas (G1) victor Ruling Court.
Henri Matisse is out of the dual group 1-winning miler Immortal Verse, making him a half brother to Cheveley Park Stakes (G1) and Prix Jean Prat (G1) winner Tenebrism (Caravaggio), as well as the unbeaten Airlie Stud Stakes (G2) winner Statuette(Justify ).
Coolmore's David O'Loughlin said: "A very good 2-year-old winning grade 1 or group 2 races over six furlongs, 7 furlongs and a mile, Henri Matisse totally outclassed his rivals at the Breeders' Cup and again showed his brilliance with a track record-breaking win in the French Guineas.
"He and Camille Pissarro are the only sons of Wootton Bassett to have won group 1s at both 2 and 3 years, while Wootton Bassett's first two sons to stud have both sired group 1 winners in France this year. Henri Matisse hails from one of the best damlines in the book. His dam Immortal Verse, a winner of the Coronation Stakes and Jacques Le Marois, set a European record for a broodmare when purchased for 4,700,000gns and has also bred champion two-year-old Tenebrism and unbeaten group 2 winner Statuette.
"When you put all this together with his physique and movement, he is sure to prove popular with breeders."
Henri Matisse retires with a record of six wins and three placings from 11 starts. A fee will be announced in due course.
