Redoute’s Choice colt Elzaam has been retired to Ballyhane Stud in County Carlow.  He will stand for a first-season fee of 4,000 euros in Ireland.

Elzaam (4c Redoute’s Choice – Mambo In Freeport by Kingmambo) was conceived to northern hemisphere time at Arrowfield Stud in Australia in 2007 and was purchased by Sheikh Maktoum for 280,000 euros at the 2009 Arqana August yearling sale.

Bred by Kia Ora Stud, he is from a winning half-sister to G1 Del Mar Debutante Stakes winner Point Ashley.

Elzaam made an impressive winning debut at York in May of his juvenile year.  He was narrowly denied a G2 in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and followed up with stakes placings in both the July Stakes and Horris Hill Stakes.

Returning at three, he developed into a high-class sprinter for trainer Roger Varian winning the LR Carnavon Stakes by six lengths and he wasn’t beaten far when fourth in the G1 Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot behind Society Rock.

“Elzaam was a cracking two-year-old but when I saw him at Newbury winning the Carnarvon Stakes, I was very impressed,” Ballyhane Stud’s Joe Foley said.  “He is a stunning-looking horse with a great action and he obviously had tremendous ability.  He’s got a stallion’s pedigree and is by one of the best sires in the world.”

– Karl Patterson