Top class European galloper Montjeu will stand at stud in New Zealand this season, the Australian arm of one of the world's biggest breeding operations has confirmed.
Montjeu is one of three new stallions from the world-renowned Coolmore Stud in Ireland to be heading to the Southern Hemisphere this year, said Coolmore Australia.
The others are last year's Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus and triple group one winner High Yield.
Montjeu will replace another Coolmore stallion, Spinning World, at Windsor Park Stud in the Waikato.
Fusaichi Pegasus, High Yield and Spinning World are going to Coolmore's Australian base at Hunter Valley in New South Wales.
Montjeu was retired from racing last November after finishing eighth in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Churchill Downs in Kentucky and has stood his first season at stud alongside his champion sire, Saddler's Wells, at Coolmore Stud in Ireland.
The French-trained galloper was regarded as one of the best 2400-metre horses of recent times after victories in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe as a three-year-old and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot in England last July.
Montjeu was crowned Europe's champion three-year-old after victories in the French Derby, Irish Derby and Prix de l'Arc. As a four-year-old he was unbeaten in his first four starts.
He won 11 of his 16 starts, including six at group one, for prize money of more than $8 million.
- NZPA
Racing: Montjeu to stand at Windsor Park
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