Puerto Rico Retired, Will Stand at Castlehyde Stud

Last year's champion 2-year-old colt Puerto Rico (IRE) has been retired to stand at Coolmore's Castlehyde Stud for the 2027 breeding season. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, Puerto Rico sparked a dominant and flawless autumn hat trick by defeating European champion 2-year-old Gewan (GB) in the Champagne Stakes (G2) at Doncaster Racecourse. He proceeded to capture the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1) over 7 furlongs at ParisLongchamp Racecourse, besting eventual dual group 1 and classic winner Rayif (IRE) by 2 1/2 lengths, and doing so in a faster time than his late sire Wootton Bassett. Surpassing his sire's own race record, Puerto Rico then completed back-to-back French group 1 victories with a straightforward win in the Criterium International (G1) over a mile at Saint-Cloud Racecourse. From an outstanding family of champions and multiple group 1 winners, Puerto Rico is out of the group 2-placed Galileo mare April Showers (IRE), a sister to four-time group 1- and classic-winning champion 2-year-old Misty For Me (IRE) and 2015 Prix Marcel Boussac-Critérium des Pouliches (G1) heroine Ballydoyle (IRE). It is the immediate family of multiple group 1 winners Roly Poly and unbeaten 1999 European champion 2-year-old Fasliyev. Puerto Rico finished seventh in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) Oct. 31 at Keeneland. Castlehyde Stud manager Paddy Fleming said: "Puerto Rico is the best 2-year-old by Wootton Bassett, and the reality is that he was a better 2-year-old than him. He brings incredible 2-year-old form and one of the best pedigrees in the stud book to the roster. His fee will be announced this week, and breeders can anticipate exceptional commercial value from a horse of this caliber."