Lovatsville to Stand Espionage in 2026

Lovatsville Stud has added the multiple group winner Espionage (AUS) to its roster for the 2026 breeding season and the son of Zoustar (AUS) will stand for an introductory fee of AU$11,000 (inc. GST). A boom early season juvenile, Espionage won the 2024 Breeders' Plate (G3) on debut before returning in the autumn to land the Kindergarten Stakes (G3) in great style, scoring by more than 3 lengths. Bred by Gerry Harvey's Baramul Stud, he was purchased by James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership for AU$1 million at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and trained throughout his career by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. Espionage's high-class juvenile performances prompted Coolmore and its partners to land a multimillion-dollar deal to acquire a majority share of the horse. However, an untimely injury on the cusp of his 3-year-old season put paid to ambitions for an Everest (G1) campaign. Lovatsville's Sam White revealed his delight at securing the horse, with Coolmore retaining an interest. "He is a great coup for our farm and for Victoria, and to have Coolmore's continued backing underlines his credentials in this market," White said. "He is a beautifully colored stallion with a fabulous Zoustar-styled head. A brilliant loose mover with a plunging girth and great shoulder. He has scope, short cannons, great length to his hocks, and has an outstanding demeanor." Meanwhile, champion trainer Gai Waterhouse endorsed the prospects of Espionage standing at Lovatsville. The 4-year-old finished his racing career with two wins and two further placings from 10 starts, with just short of AU$450,000 earned in prize money. "He was very much a precocious 2-year-old, a sensational horse with enormous speed who did everything so easily," Waterhouse said. "He has such a fabulous temperament, which is so important. He is as good-looking a colt as you will find, and being a fast son of Zoustar with looks like his, I know that breeders will be very impressed when they see him." By champion sire Zoustar, Espionage is out of the city-winning Street Cry mare In Times Of War, who herself is a daughter of group 2-winning mare Military Rose. Espionage has 50 quality mares already committed to the 2026 breeding season through a strong shareholder syndicate.