Coolmore’s five-time G1 winner Cape Blanco will enter stud in 2012 at its Ashford Stud base in Kentucky.

An Irish-bred son of Galileo, Cape Blanco was retired after fracturing a knee while winning the G1 Joe Hirsch Classic at Belmont Park earlier this month.  That victory followed G1 results in the Man o’ War Stakes at Belmont and Arlington Million in Chicago.  

Cape Blanco (4c Galileo — Laurel Delight by Presidium) completed the Irish Derby and Irish Champion last year before his G1 treble in the United States.

“Galileo is without doubt the hottest sire in the world right now,” Ashford manager Dermot Ryan said.  “He has no less than 10 different G1 winners including five European classic winners this year alone.  We’ve wanted to stand one of his top sons for some time and, in Cape Blanco, we’re confident we’ve got him.”

Cape Blanco was unbeaten in three starts as a juvenile including the G2 Irish Futurity Stakes, a race also won by North America’s reigning leading sire Giant’s Causeway who also stands at Ashford.

Cape Blanco was given a fond farewell by trainer Aidan O’Brien.  “We’re sad to see him leave Ballydoyle,” O’Brien said.  “He had a tremendous attitude to racing and was extremely talented and courageous.”

Dubai businessman Jim Hay bought a share in the colt earlier this year from Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and John Magnier.  Coolmore will announce the service fee for Cape Blanco at a later date.