SHANTOU
bay horse, 1993, by
Alleged out of Shaima
Shantou was a grand, scopey bay of classic quality, carrying the deep, rangy frame typical of his sire Alleged and the refinement of his dam Shaima. Bred by Darley and trained by John Gosden, he had the presence of a staying horse of the old school: a strong, clean head, a well-laid shoulder, depth through the heart, and a powerful, lengthened hindquarter that gave him his relentless gallop. His action was fluent and efficient, the stride of a horse built to sustain pressure over a trip.
Foaled in 1993, he progressed rapidly once sent to the track, rising from maiden company to the highest level in a single season. His three-year-old campaign marked him as a colt of real substance: third in the Epsom Derby, he improved again to capture the St Leger at Doncaster with a determined late surge under Frankie Dettori, before travelling to Italy to add the Gran Premio del Jockey Club. At four he confirmed his class with victories in the Gran Premio di Milano and the Princess of Wales's Stakes, ending his career with six wins, two seconds and four thirds from fourteen starts, earning over £824,000.
Retired to Burgage Stud, he became one of the most influential National Hunt stallions of his era. A strong source of stamina, bone and constitution, he transmitted his own toughness and scope with remarkable consistency. His progeny include top-level performers such as The Storyteller, Shan Blue, Death Duty, Impervious, Chianti Classico, Threeunderthrufive and many others, marking him as a sire whose stock stayed, jumped and improved with age. His longevity at stud matched his durability on the racecourse, and he remained a cornerstone of the Burgage roster until his retirement and eventual passing at 28.