A very special visit to the famous National Stud took place in early August, the venue where former champions relax and play while the next generation of stars are born. The land just outside of Newmarket was converted into the National Stud which stands here today in 1963 and has a enjoyed a rich history. 

Where It All Began:
For decades, some of the very best in horse racing history have spent time at the stud and the first superstar to ply his trade in the breeding business was Mill Reef. Bred in America, the story of Mill Reef is iconic to racing fans young and old. Trained by Andrew Balding, the bay cemented his legacy by winning the Epsom Derby, Eclipse, Arc de Triomphe and King George & Queen Elizabeth VI Stakes. These premier contests are highly sought after and winning just one of them would be seen as a major achievement. To win all four races in the same season showed how much of a mercurial talent Mill Reef was. A terrible leg injury ended his racing career, but against all odds, Mill Reef overcame his injury and went on to reside at the National Stud for the rest of his days. From there, Mill Reef proved to be a super sire as well. He would produce no less than five Classic winners in the form of Shirley Heights, Reference Point, Doyoun, Fairy Footsteps and Wassl as well as a Breeders Cup winner with Lashkari. The legacy of Mill Reef trickles down to racehorse bloodstock even to this day and his statue stands proudly at the entrance where he once stood.
In a quiet corner under a row of trees, headstones lie to honour the former champions and residents of the National Stud. Laying to rest include Lester Piggott's first Derby winning ride Never Say Die, the St Leger winner Silver Patriarch, the legendary Mill Reef himself and more recently, Bahamian Bounty. 

Modern Day:
From the early days of the stud to the present day where the buzz of activity is electric, many stallions have enjoyed the landscapes and handed their genes down to the next generations. Currently, there are four active stallions who enjoyed high class success on the racecourse and are now reaping rewards from their children. 
The stallions on site are:
Stradivarius
Time Test
Rajasinghe
Lope Y Fernandez

STRADIVARIUS - Sire: Sea The Stars - Dam: Private Life  - Age: 9 - First racing offspring: Expected 2025

The name Stradivarius is known to even the most casual of racing fan after his memorable exploits on the track. Trained throughout his racing career by John Gosden, the chestnut son of Sea The Stars rose from modest handicaps to the top of the stayer's mountain with multiple Group Ones and winner of almost three and a half million pounds in prize money.
Announcing himself on the scene in 2017 when winning the Queens Vase at Royal Ascot, it would be the start of a brilliant journey for "Strad". In an unbeaten streak that lasted eighteen months, Stradivarius won nine races in a row before a valiant defeat to Kew Gardens in October 2019. A repetitive schedule of races would see Stradivarius win the "Magic Million" prize twice by winning the Ascot Gold Cup, Yorkshire Cup and Lonsdale Cup. 
A typical stayer would usually grind out victories in a determined fashion, but Stradivarius possessed a turn of foot rarely seen for his type. An amazing performance in the 2020 Ascot Gold Cup where he won by ten lengths was a sight to behold. Winner of three Ascot Gold Cups, six races at York and four Goodwood Cups, the staying division will wait a long time before another like Stradivarius comes along. 
With a stud fee of £10,000, Stradivarius was a relatively cheap option for breeders as he enjoyed his first season at stud. It is hoped that his progeny inherit plenty of stamina so the National Hunt scene may benefit. His offspring are expected to hit the track around the latter stages of 2026, with plenty of stamina in his genes, so racing fans may have to wait longer to see the next generation of Stradivarius.

TIME TEST - Sire: Dubawi - Dam: Passage of Time - Age: 11 - First Racing Offspring: 2021
A very smart colt during his racing days who was born at one of the biggest breeding operations in racing and hails from a highly talented family.
Born at Banstead Stud on the other side of Newmarket, Time Test is part of an extremely successful Juddmonte family. Out of the top class racemare Passage Of Time, who won the Criterium de Saint Cloud and Musidora Stakes, the pedigree stretches further back to the likes of Timepiece and Father Time. Trained by Roger Charlton during his time in Britain, Time Test was always on the fringe of the highest level but very good at Group Two level. Winning at Royal Ascot in 2015, the son of Dubawi would go on to win three times at Group Two and Group Three level. Moving to America in the latter stages of his career, he would go close when second in two Grade One events before flying back to Britain for his stallion career.
Currently standing for £15,000, Time Test already has plenty of offspring in a racing environment. The first crop of juveniles landed on track in 2021 and they already gained success on track. The likes of Tardis and Romantic Time winning listed events and Sunset Shiraz performing well in Group races. 2022 saw even more success from his foals. Crypto Force won last year's Beresford Stakes and was penciled in as a potential Epsom Derby contender until injury intervened. His return is eagerly anticipated and Rocchigiani landed a Group Three for Germany at the Glorious Goodwood festival.

* Unfortunately, Time Test was not on site at the time of visit due to commitments in New Zealand*

LOPE Y FERNANDEZ - Sire: Lope de Vega - Dam: Black Dahlia - Age: 6 -First Racing Offspring: Expected 2024

An underrated performer who answered every question asked of him which helped to confirm his talent on track and with his offspring reaching the track imminently, it is an exciting time for those connected with Lope Y Fernandez.
Trained by the master of Ballydoyle, Aidan O'Brien, the son of French Derby winner Lope de Vega wore the famous Derrick Smith colours around the world.
Hailing from a talented family which included Group Two winner Dark Vision, Lope Y Fernandez didn't possess the high class genes of others in the stable, but his toughness and consistency made him a hit on the racecourse. Making his debut at The Curragh, Lope Y Fernandez made the perfect start to his racing career by winning at the first time of asking. Always travelling kindly, he would go on to win by just under four lengths which stamped his ticket for Royal Ascot. Despite being a short priced favourite, he would taste defeat to what would eventually be his adversary, Pinatubo. The Godolphin-owned son of Dubawi would finish the season unbeaten with some spectacular wide margin successes at the highest level and be given one of the highest ratings for a two-year-old in history. 
With a Group Three victory gained in September of his first year, Lope Y Fernandez began 2020 as a three-year-old hoping to step up to the top level. Finishing third in the Covid-delayed Irish 2,000 Guineas, Lope Y Fernandez would finish second in two more Group Ones at Deauville, finishing the year with a third at the Breeders Cup meeting. Attempting distances of six furlongs up to a mile, it showed off his versatility which will reap rewards with his offspring. 
Picking up a deserved win in listed company on his first start as a four-year-old, the rest of 2021 would prove frustrating. The only other highlight being second in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, chasing an eased down Palace Pier in vain. 
Enjoying a healthy amount of coverings during his first period as a stallion, the first crop of Lope Y Fernandez are expected to make their debuts in 2024. If the next generation are as tough as Lope Y Fernandez, they will be a talented bunch.  

RAJASINGHE - Sire: Chosir - Dam: Bunditten - Age: 8 - First Racing Offspring: 2022
Somewhat of a surprise hit at stud following a successful first crop of racehorses, it is hoped that Rajasinghe can continue to provide plenty of hardy juveniles on track for the near future and beyond.

Trained in his racing days by Richard Spencer and owned by Rebel Racing, the flashy chestnut hailed from a very fast family. His sire Choisir was champion of Australia in the early noughties and flew over to Ascot to achieve the previously never done before Kings' Stand and Golden Jubilee Stakes double in the same week. Rajasinghe was also related to highly rated sprinters and first showed his ability on debut in some style by winning a modest novice at Newcastle by four lengths. He impressed those at the track that day and it set up a big day out at Royal Ascot. Quietly fancied for the Group Two Coventry Stakes, which so often produces many high class colts, Rajasinghe was held up early under Stevie Donohoe. As the race progressed, so did Rajasinghe. Picking his way through rivals, the two-year-old arrived on the line to land a first Royal Ascot win for himself and his ecstatic yard. The performance was raised further by the clock, it would break the course record time for six furlongs, a record which stands even today. His biggest moment would eventually be his final win as Rajasinghe would never win again, retiring as a three year old with a third in the July Stakes a glimmer of promise. 
His new career as a stallion has gotten off to a flyer with his progeny proving a success on their first seasons. Out of his seventeen foals to hit the track, an impressive eight won at least once. By the end of the season in 2022, Rajasinghe would be awarded with the prize of most winners to runners with the winning-most landing three wins. His flag bearer would be Waiting All Night, out of the mare Goodnightsuzy. Waiting All Night emulated his sire by winning on his debut before taking in big festivals such as Royal Ascot and the Ebor Festival, ending the season rated 92. Hougoumont would also look smart by winning twice from his first four starts and looked promising at one stage. The Mark Walford-trained Spioraldalta improved with experience around the autumn time and has since won a total of three races, making him the biggest earner so far. 
With plenty of speed and sharpness in Rajasinghe's pedigree, the precocity of his offspring comes to no real surprise. His progeny are often ready to go from day one and have already shown ability on debut. 2023's crop looks set to be headed by Two Tribes, who has finished second and fourth so far in his career and should be winning further down the line.