Second top-level winner for Belardo as Red Lion roars home in the FWD Champions Mile

Red Lion deservedly picked up a first Group 1 success when stunning Voyage Bubble in Sunday's FWD Champions Mile in Hong Kong. In doing so, he became the second winner at the highest level for Bearstone Stud sire Belardo. 

Bred by Patrick Harney and just a €7,000 purchase by Athnid Stud from Ballybeg Stables at the 2020 Tattersalls Ireland Flat Breeding Stock Sale, the six-year-old gelding was registering his first Group success and eighth overall from 37 starts. 

He had finished second in last year's FWD Champions Mile, as well as placing third in the Group 1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup that season. Having also finished third in January's Group 1 Stewards' Cup, the gelding's prize-money total now stands at £3,410,758. 

Red Lion is one of nine individual Group/Graded winners for Belardo, whose other top-flight winner is Frank E Kilroe Mile Stakes scorer Gold Phoenix. 

The John Size-trained Red Lion (inside) lands the Group 1 FWD Champions MileCredit: Hong Kong Jockey Club

Prior to his success on Sunday morning, Red Lion had achieved the highest Racing Post Rating (RPR) of any of Belardo's progeny with his RPR of 122 better than that of Gold Phoenix at 120.

The Dewhurst and Lockinge winner is also responsible for Group/Grade 2 winners in Bellabel, successful in the San Clemente Stakes and sourced as a yearling at the same sale as Red Lion, and Rockfel Stakes victress Isabella Giles, in addition to Group 3 winners Belardo Boy, Special Wan, Verona, Lullaby Moon and Elysium. 

Having originally stood at Darley's Kildangan Stud upon retirement in 2017 for a fee of €15,000, the son of Lope De Vega remained there until 2022. The now 13-year-old then transferred to Bearstone Stud ahead of the 2023 season where he was introduced at £6,500.

Belardo stands this year for £5,500, a fee that is unchanged from 2024. 

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