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Archie Watson’s star sprinter Bradsell will retire to stand at the National Stud after bidding to round off a marvellous campaign in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar in November.

A commanding winner of the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot as a juvenile, Bradsell returned to the Royal meeting a year later with a sparkling performance in the Group 1 King's Stand Stakes. 

Injury forced Bradsell to miss the beginning of his four-year-old campaign, but under the watchful eye of trainer Archie Watson, the son of Tasleet roared back to his best, claiming further top-level honours in the Nunthorpe Stakes and Flying Five before going down gallantly in second on testing ground in the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp earlier this month. 

A tilt at the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar beckons, after which he will retire to stand alongside the likes of champion stayer Stradivarius and Lope Y Fernandez at the National Stud in Newmarket. 

"Bradsell has so much speed, so much class and is so tough," said Archie Watson. "He is a pleasure to do anything with and is just so good over five. If he puts an ounce of that into his stock, I'm looking forward to training them." 

Oliver St Lawrence, racing manager to Victorious Racing, said: "Bradsell has been an exceptional flag bearer for Sheikh Nasser, winning every top sprint race and showing his incredible toughness, tenacity and sheer will to win. The sheikh is looking forward to supporting him with mares at stud and in the sales ring in the future."

National Stud CEO Anna Kerr added: "We are delighted to welcome Bradsell to the National Stud and stand him in partnership with Shaikh Nasser's Victorious Racing. He is the standout sprinter of recent years with a great physical. We are looking forward to presenting him to breeders at the December sales."

A fee for Bradsell will be announced after the Breeders' Cup.