Coolmore curling the Mo

Champion USA 2YO Uncle Mo has been signed to stand at Coolmore’s Kentucky base at Ashford Stud.

Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie) is trained by Todd Pletcher for owner Mike Repole. “We will see what happens after the Breeders’ Cup Classic,” Repole said.  “Todd and I will sit down with the Coolmore team and decide whether he races on at four.”

Bred in Kentucky, Uncle Mo was a $220,000 Keeneland yearling in September 2009.  He was a 14 length winner on debut at Saratoga and then romped home in the G1 Champagne Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

He wintered as the 2010 Kentucky Derby favourite but missed the Triple Crown series owing to a liver illness.  He returned after a five-month layoff with a nose defeat in the G1 King’s Bishop Stakes at Saratoga before as last start victory in the G2 Kelso Hcp at Belmont.

“Todd told me he’s never had a horse as good as Uncle Mo and that’s good enough for me,” Ashford manager Dermot Ryan said.  “He’s also a magnificent-looking horse by a very good sire.”

Uncle Mo is by Airdrie Stud sire Indian Charlie (In Excess) who was a G1 winner of the 1998 Santa Anita Derby.  His dam is the multiple stakes-placed mare Playa Maya (Arch).