Lead Artist retires to Juddmonte’s Banstead Manor Stud

Juddmonte announces that Group 1-winning miler Lead Artist will join the stallion roster at Banstead Manor Stud for the 2026 season.

The four-year-old son of sire of sires Dubawi is a Juddmonte homebred, hailing from the stallion-making family of Dansili. The first foal out of Frankel’s Group 2 Prix de Sandringham and Group 1-placed Obligate, a granddaughter of Juddmonte’s outstanding blue hen mare Hasili, whose descendants are responsible for no fewer than 53 Group 1 performances.

Lead Artist debuted in April of his three-year-old season and soon broke his maiden in impressive fashion at York over a mile. That marked the beginning of a progressive campaign, highlighted by victories in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Stakes over a mile at Goodwood and the Group 3 Darley Stakes over nine furlongs at Newmarket.

He stepped forward again at four, his crowning moment coming in the stallion-making Group 1 Lockinge Stakes, defeating a high-class field in the process. Amongst them were four Group 1 winners, including Guineas winners Rosallion, Notable Speech, and Fallen Angel, as well as Sun Chariot Stakes winner Tamfana. In winning this prestigious mile event, Lead Artist recorded the second fastest time in its history. Previous notable winners of the race include the successful stallions Habitat, Kris, Polar Falcon, Selkirk, Cape Cross, Medicean, Frankel, and Night Of Thunder. More recent high-profile winners include Palace Pier and Baaeed — so he sits in illustrious company.

Trainer John Gosden commented: “Lead Artist is a very powerful and well-balanced miler from a superb family.”

General Manager of Juddmonte UK, Simon Mockridge adds: “Lead Artist represents a fantastic opportunity to further strengthen our stallion roster. The extremely talented Group 1-winning son of Dubawi is a product of Juddmonte’s most prolific family, that of blue hen mare Hasili, herself dam of five individual Group 1 winners as well as the influential stallion, Dansili."

"Lead Artist is an outstanding physical with great balance, strength and movement all attributes which will appeal to the commercial breeder.”

Lead Artist will be available to breeders for viewing over the course of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sales. Please contact the nominations team to arrange an appointment.