G1 winner Maranoa Charlie to stand at Tally-Ho Stud

MARANOA CHARLIE TO STAND AT TALLY-HO STUD

Son of Wootton Bassett was the brilliant winner of the G1 Prix de la Foret

MARANOA CHARLIE, brilliant winner of the G1 Prix de la Foret, has been retired to stand at Tally-Ho Stud.

A son of much-missed European Champion Sire elect Wootton Bassett, Maranoa Charlie retires as the winner of six races at two and three years.

Trained by Christopher Head, Maranoa Charlie signed off his career for Bond Thoroughbred Limited with an emphatic victory in the G1 Prix de la Foret at Longchamp. Using his customary early cruising speed, he was able to dictate the race throughout under Aurelien Lemaitre before drawing clear of Classic winner Zarigana for an authoritative win.

Maranoa Charlie was versatile ground wise, while his early pace and ability to quicken off it was a key element throughout his career. He was one of the best 2yos of his crop, winning his first three races starting with the Arqana Series des Poulains at Deauville on good ground on debut. Having subsequently run out the wide-margin winner of a conditions race at Chantilly, he was similarly dominant in the G3 Prix Thomas Bryon at Saint-Cloud, making all for an eight-length success.

“I don't think I've ever trained a horse like Maranoa Charlie,” said Christopher Head following that race. “One with his desire to run and who can take the others on like that. He gets better with every run and I don't know what his limits are.”

Maranoa Charlie progressed again at three, making all to take the G3 Prix Djebel on his seasonal debut before a similar all-the-way win in the G3 Prix Paul de Moussac. 

He was beaten only a short neck when second in the G1 Prix Jean Prat, ahead of G1 performers such as The Lion In Winter and Shadow Of Light, and ran another fine race when third, beaten under a length, on good to firm in the G1 City Of York Stakes at York. That preceded his impressive win in the G1 Prix de la Foret.

Bond Thoroughbred Limited will remain as part of the ownership in Maranoa Charlie, and Charlie Bond is looking forward to supporting the son of Wootton Bassett at Tally-Ho Stud.

“Tally-Ho are one of the best studs out there and we’re thrilled to be teaming up with them,” says Charlie Bond. “The eight-metre stride pattern that Maranoa Charlie has is up there with the very best and will prove the key to his progeny. Christopher Head said from day one that he is the best he has ever trained and the data technology that Christopher uses showed that Maranoa Charlie what does at home was transferred on to the track. 

“He goes out at the top winning the Gr.1 Prix de la Foret in such good fashion. By Wootton Bassett out of a Galileo mare, he’s from one of the fastest lines out there that also produced Champion 2yo Tiggy Wiggy. He is a very exciting horse for the future for many breeders.”

Maranoa Charlie offers access into the Wootton Bassett sire line, a strong influence for class, versatility and juvenile talent. He is out of the winning Galileo mare Koubalibre, a half-sister to Champion 2yo filly Tiggy Wiggy, winner of the Gr.1 Cheveley Park Stakes. 

“We are delighted to welcome such a talented horse as Maranoa Charlie to Tally-Ho,” said Roger O’Callaghan. “With his 2yo form and G1 record at three, he will be an excellent complement to our roster, especially being by Wootton Bassett, whose early sons to stud supplied this year’s G1 winners Woodshauna and Gezora, yesterday's G1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine. We look forward to supporting him strongly with our broodmare band.”