Admiral Kitten to stand in South Africa

Grade 1 winner Admiral Kitten has been sold to stand at Moutonshoek Stud in South Africa starting with the upcoming Southern Hemisphere breeding season.

The 7-year-old son of Kitten’s Joy is in his second season at stud and currently resides at Ocala Stud in Ocala, Fla., where he stands for an advertised fee of $4,000. He debuted last year at Stroud’s Lane Farm in Reddick, Fla., where he was bred to 20 mares.

The sale to South Africa was confirmed by James LaMonica of Kentucky-based bloodstock agency The Stallion Co. Admiral Kitten will enter quarantine at the conclusion of the Northern Hemisphere season.

Admiral Kitten won four of 16 starts for earnings of $792,394, highlighted by victories in the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes, the Grade 3 John B. Connally Turf Cup, and the listed El Joven Stakes. He placed in six additional graded stakes races.

Bred in Kentucky by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Admiral Kitten was the first foal out of the winning Grand Slam mare Reachinforthestars, whose first foals to race were both winners before the mare’s untimely death.

The extended family includes champion Cozzene; Grade/Group 2 winners Funistrada, Awesome Gem, Movin’ Money, Krisada, Spring Venture, Ahh Chocolate, and Ancient Secret; and Grade 3 winners Rahystrada and Lone Star Sky.

Admiral Kitten joins a stallion roster at Moutonshoek Stud that also includes two-time Canadian champion Marchfield and 2008 Travers Stakes runner-up Mambo in Seattle.