Territories, the sire of top-level winners including this year's unbeaten Prix Maurice de Gheest hero Lazzat, has been sold to stand at Poonawalla Stud Farms in India through a deal brokered by bloodstock agent Ajay Anne.

The son of Invincible Spirit was a high-class racehorse himself, winning at two and placing second in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and Prix la Rochette for Andre Fabre. The Godolphin homebred landed his first Group race in the Prix de Fontainebleau on his first start at three before a valiant second to Gleneagles in the 2,000 Guineas.

His next outing saw him capture a first Group 1 in the Prix Jean Prat, while he was also second in the Prix Jacques le Marois that season. He was twice Group-placed at four the following year before his retirement to Dalham Hall Stud for an opening fee of £12,000 in 2017.

His CV at stud is headed by the aforementioned Lazzat, as well as last year's Haydock Sprint Cup hero Regional and Rougir, a winner of the Prix de l'Opera and E.P. Taylor Stakes. She had made €3 million to Oceanic Bloodstock at Arqana's December Sale following her Longchamp victory. 

Other notable progeny include Derby runner-up Hoo Ya Mal, a £1.2m purchase to Australia at the Goffs London Sale, as well as Group 2 scorers Que Tempesta, Navajo Peak and Berkeley Square. His record currently stands at 38 individual black-type performers, including nine individual Group winners.

Anne said: "Mr Zavaray Poonawalla is looking to acquire world-class stallions and broodmares for his esteemed stud farm in Pune. The process started last year when we started to buy some top-class mares at Tattersalls like Nemoralia, Riposte and Rostova and then we started to search for the best stallion prospect or a proven world-class sire itself.

"So here we are. Nemoralia is the dam of unbeaten Grade 2 winner May Day Ready, Pavlosk, a full-sister to Rostova, is responsible for Phoenix Stakes winner Babouche and, of course, Territories is a proven top-class sire with Lazzat this year."

Territories stood this year for a fee of £10,000 and covered 104 mares this season. The Pune-based stud has a roster already including Excellent Art, Leitir Mor and Roderic O’Connor.

Courtesy https://www.racingpost.com