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Hungerford Stakes Hero Sleeping Indian To Join Tweenhills Stallion Roster
14/09/06

Sleeping Indian (Jimmy Fortune) winning the Group 2 VC Bet Challenge Stakes in convincing style from Killybegs (hidden) and Satchem (Kerrin McEvoy) at Newmarket (14-10-06)
© racing-images.co.uk

Last season's Hungerford Stakes winner Sleeping Indian - who is set to contest tomorrow's Dubai Duty Free Cup at Newbury en route to a tilt at the Group 1 Prix de la Foret - is to retire at the end of this year to take up stallion duties at Tweenhills Farm and Stud in Gloucestershire.

The son of Indian Ridge will be leased back to his owner-breeder George Strawbridge for the remainder of his racing career.

Trained by John Gosden, Sleeping Indian won a Windsor maiden by six lengths on his debut and went on to Listed successes in the Ben Marshall Stakes at Newmarket and the John Of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock, where those beaten included Quito and Welsh Emperor.

After finishing a good fifth in last season's Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, he impressively won the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury, which was upgraded to Group 2 status this year after Sleeping Indian's victory when he beat a high-class field including Majors Cast, multiple Group-1 winner Attraction and Nayyir.

He narrowly went down in a photo to Iffraaj in the Group 2 Park Stakes at Doncaster, when three lengths clear of subsequent Group 1 winner Court Masterpiece, and - after fifth place in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes - rounded last year off with an excellent second in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes at Newmarket. At the end of the 2005 season, he was rated 122 by Timeform, who described him as a "strong, good-topped colt and a very smart performer."

Sleeping Indian's sire Indian Ridge has some exciting sons at stud, including Namid, Compton Place and Domedriver while his Group 1-placed dam Las Flores has produced four stakes winners.

Sleeping Indian is being targeted at the Group 1 Prix de la Foret at Longchamp on September 30 and trainer John Gosden said today: "From the moment Sleeping Indian arrived in the yard he looked top-class. He is a correct, powerful horse with a fabulous temperament and his target is the Group 1 Prix de la Foret before an exciting stud career beckons."

David Redvers, owner of Tweenhills Farm and Stud, added: "We are thrilled to have acquired Sleeping Indian. He's the complete package - stunning to look at, he boasts a superb pedigree and has consistently shown an outstanding level of form."

A maximum of 20 shares will be sold in Sleeping Indian and a fee has yet to be set. He will join a Tweenhills stallion roster in 2007 that also includes Ishiguru, Trade Fair, Lucky Story and Fraam.