Heversham Park Farm has purchased Byword (Peintre Celebre), the winner of the Gr1 Prince of Wales Stakes, at Bloodstock SA’s December online auction.
Despite having sired numerous stakes winners including a Gr1 winner, there are no plans to revive his stud career.
Heversham Buys Gr1 Winner Gr1 Producing Stallion, Byword (Pic – Heversham)
“We know Byword quite well as our dear friends, the Pickerings, imported him and he stood at their Middlefield Stud in KZN,” said Heversham’s Kat Riley.
“We were concerned that he may have ended up abandoned or neglected, a fate that as the French Champion Miler of his year would have been an insult to not only the horse but also to his previous European and local owners.
“We decided to purchase him and place him in our ‘National Paddock Of Legends’ which offers horses a compassionate and dignified retirement and preserves the beautiful and historic traditions of thoroughbred racing. We’ll be launching the Paddock Of Legends officially in March 2024.
“It seems unbelievable that a French Champion thoroughbred that has produced a Gr1 winner was sold for £400, but he will happily live out the rest of his days with us, and if someone wants a service for a mare, they are quite welcome to contact us.”
Byword has sired Gr1 Empress Club Stakes winner Capmphoratus, stakes winner New Stream, stakes-placed Garrulous and Riverstown, and a host of multiple winners including True Words and Lulu’s Boy.
