Malibu Moon (USA)
February 23, 1997 – May 18, 2021
A.P. Indy (USA) x Macoumba (USA), by Mr. Prospector (USA)
Family 2-s
February 23, 1997 – May 18, 2021
A.P. Indy (USA) x Macoumba (USA), by Mr. Prospector (USA)
Family 2-s
Bred in the purple on both sides of his pedigree, Malibu Moon flashed talent in winning a maiden special weight at Hollywood but was injured before demonstrating whether he was more than a flash in the pan. Given a chance at stud because of his stellar pedigree, he made good, becoming a Classic sire in the United States.
Race record
2 starts, 1 win, 1 second, 0 thirds, US$33,840
As an individual
A rather coarse but rangy and powerfully made bay horse standing 16.1 hands according to stallion registers (16.3 hands according to his video at the Spendthrift Farm website, https://www.spendthriftfarm.com/stallions/malibumoon/#media), Malibu Moon had plenty of bone and substance and was generally well balanced with a strong hind end. A wide-chested horse, he appeared slightly base-narrow and tended to swing his left foreleg inward. He was forced into early retirement from racing by a slab fracture in one knee. He had a disposition described as "playful" and "feisty" as a young stallion but became more aggressive and dominant as he matured.
As a stallion
Malibu Moon tended to get runners that peaked as late 2-year-olds or during the first half of their 3-year-old seasons, though he sired horses (especially daughters) that have trained on well. He usually sired a big, strong, commercially attractive physical type. He showed an affinity for mares descending from Storm Cat and/or Deputy Minister. According to statistics complied by The Jockey Club, Malibu Moon has sired 1295 winners (58.6%) and 137 stakes winners (6.2%) from 2210 named foals of racing age as of July 29, 2023.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per the Korean Studbook (https://studbook.kra.co.kr/neweng/main.jsp):
Notable progeny
Ask the Moon (USA), Carina Mia (USA), Come Dancing (USA), Declan’s Moon (USA), Devil May Care (USA), Eden’s Moon (USA), Emilia’s Moon (USA), Funny Moon (USA), Gormley (USA), Heavenly Love (USA), Life at Ten (USA), Magnum Moon (USA), Malibu Mint (USA), Malibu Prayer (USA), Moonlit Promise (USA), Moonshine Memories (USA), Orb (USA), Ransom the Moon (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Ando Soltera (CHI), Bellafina (USA), Brightwork (USA), By the Moon (USA), Girvin (USA), Kalypso (USA), Locked (USA), Sierra Leone (USA), Stellar Wind (USA)
Connections
Malibu Moon was bred and owned by B. Wayne Hughes. He entered stud in 2000 in Maryland at Country Life Farm. He was transferred to Castleton Lyons in Kentucky following the 2003 breeding season and stood there from 2004-2007 as a joint venture between Country Life Farm, Castleton Lyons, and Hughes. From 2008 onward, he stood at Hughes’ Spendthrift Farm. He died in his paddock of an apparent heart attack on May 18, 2021.
Pedigree notes
Foaled in Kentucky, Malibu Moon is inbred 5x5 to five-time American champion sire Nasrullah, also the English/Irish champion sire of 1951. He is a full brother to Lady Nichola, dam of Grade 3 winner Worth Repeating (by Giant’s Causeway), and a half brother to Curriculum (by Danzig), dam of Grade 3 winner Temple City (by Dynaformer). In addition, he is a half brother to listed stakes-placed Mutually Benefit (by Dynaformer), dam of stakes winner Compelled (by War Front).
Malibu Moon is out of 1994 Prix Marcel Boussac (FR-G1) winner Macoumba, who is a half sister to 1990 Prix de la Forêt (FR-G1) winner Septieme Ciel (by A. P. Indy’s sire Seattle Slew), to multiple Grade 3 winner Maxigroom (by Blushing Groom), and to French listed stakes winners Balchaia (by Blushing Groom) and Manureva (by Nureyev). The last-named mare is the dam of 2000 Atto Mile Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Riviera (by Kris). Macoumba is also a half sister to Supamova (by Seattle Slew), dam of Group 2-placed English stakes winner Supaseus (by Spinning World), and to Metisse (by Kingmambo), dam of 2009 Slovakian champion miler Steady as a Rock (by Rock of Gibraltar) and second dam of 2014 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, FR-G1) winner The Grey Gatsby.
Macoumba and her siblings are out of the Green Dancer mare Maximova, who won the 1992 Prix de la Salamandre (FR-G1) and three Group 3 events during her own racing days. She is a half sister to French Group 2 winner Navratilovna (by Nureyev), dam of French listed stakes winner Leo Girl (by Seattle Slew), and to French Group 3 winner Vilikaia (by Nureyev), dam of restricted stakes winner Legend of Russia (by Suave Dancer) and second dam of 2011 Nearctic Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Regally Ready and Grade 3 winner Sir Truebadour. Produced from the Swaps mare Baracala (au unraced half sister to 1974 French champion miler Nonoalco, by Nearctic, and to French Group 3 winner Stradavinsky, by Nijinsky II), Maximova is also a half sister to French listed stakes winner Moivouloirtoi (by Bering), dam of French listed stakes winner Alyzea (by King Charlemagne), and to Doigts de Fee (by L’emigrant), dam of French listed stakes winner Draconienne (by Trempolino).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Portrait photo taken by Jessica Morgan at Spendthrift Farm in 2016. Used by permission.
Last updated: September 1, 2024
Race record
2 starts, 1 win, 1 second, 0 thirds, US$33,840
As an individual
A rather coarse but rangy and powerfully made bay horse standing 16.1 hands according to stallion registers (16.3 hands according to his video at the Spendthrift Farm website, https://www.spendthriftfarm.com/stallions/malibumoon/#media), Malibu Moon had plenty of bone and substance and was generally well balanced with a strong hind end. A wide-chested horse, he appeared slightly base-narrow and tended to swing his left foreleg inward. He was forced into early retirement from racing by a slab fracture in one knee. He had a disposition described as "playful" and "feisty" as a young stallion but became more aggressive and dominant as he matured.
As a stallion
Malibu Moon tended to get runners that peaked as late 2-year-olds or during the first half of their 3-year-old seasons, though he sired horses (especially daughters) that have trained on well. He usually sired a big, strong, commercially attractive physical type. He showed an affinity for mares descending from Storm Cat and/or Deputy Minister. According to statistics complied by The Jockey Club, Malibu Moon has sired 1295 winners (58.6%) and 137 stakes winners (6.2%) from 2210 named foals of racing age as of July 29, 2023.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
- 5th on the Korean broodmare sire list in 2017; 6th in 2019 and 2023; 9th in 2018 and 2021.
- Led the North American general sire list in 2010; 2nd in 2013; 4th in 2011; 6th in 2012 and 2017; 8th in 2009; 10th in 2015 and 2018.
- 5th on the North American broodmare sire list in 2023; 10th in 2022.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 3rd on the US general sire list in 2010; 4th in 2013; 5th in 2011; 7th in 2012; 8th in 2017; 10th in 2015.
Per the Korean Studbook (https://studbook.kra.co.kr/neweng/main.jsp):
- 5th on the Korean broodmare sire list in 2017; 6th in 2019 and 2023; 9th in 2021; 10th in 2018.
Notable progeny
Ask the Moon (USA), Carina Mia (USA), Come Dancing (USA), Declan’s Moon (USA), Devil May Care (USA), Eden’s Moon (USA), Emilia’s Moon (USA), Funny Moon (USA), Gormley (USA), Heavenly Love (USA), Life at Ten (USA), Magnum Moon (USA), Malibu Mint (USA), Malibu Prayer (USA), Moonlit Promise (USA), Moonshine Memories (USA), Orb (USA), Ransom the Moon (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Ando Soltera (CHI), Bellafina (USA), Brightwork (USA), By the Moon (USA), Girvin (USA), Kalypso (USA), Locked (USA), Sierra Leone (USA), Stellar Wind (USA)
Connections
Malibu Moon was bred and owned by B. Wayne Hughes. He entered stud in 2000 in Maryland at Country Life Farm. He was transferred to Castleton Lyons in Kentucky following the 2003 breeding season and stood there from 2004-2007 as a joint venture between Country Life Farm, Castleton Lyons, and Hughes. From 2008 onward, he stood at Hughes’ Spendthrift Farm. He died in his paddock of an apparent heart attack on May 18, 2021.
Pedigree notes
Foaled in Kentucky, Malibu Moon is inbred 5x5 to five-time American champion sire Nasrullah, also the English/Irish champion sire of 1951. He is a full brother to Lady Nichola, dam of Grade 3 winner Worth Repeating (by Giant’s Causeway), and a half brother to Curriculum (by Danzig), dam of Grade 3 winner Temple City (by Dynaformer). In addition, he is a half brother to listed stakes-placed Mutually Benefit (by Dynaformer), dam of stakes winner Compelled (by War Front).
Malibu Moon is out of 1994 Prix Marcel Boussac (FR-G1) winner Macoumba, who is a half sister to 1990 Prix de la Forêt (FR-G1) winner Septieme Ciel (by A. P. Indy’s sire Seattle Slew), to multiple Grade 3 winner Maxigroom (by Blushing Groom), and to French listed stakes winners Balchaia (by Blushing Groom) and Manureva (by Nureyev). The last-named mare is the dam of 2000 Atto Mile Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Riviera (by Kris). Macoumba is also a half sister to Supamova (by Seattle Slew), dam of Group 2-placed English stakes winner Supaseus (by Spinning World), and to Metisse (by Kingmambo), dam of 2009 Slovakian champion miler Steady as a Rock (by Rock of Gibraltar) and second dam of 2014 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, FR-G1) winner The Grey Gatsby.
Macoumba and her siblings are out of the Green Dancer mare Maximova, who won the 1992 Prix de la Salamandre (FR-G1) and three Group 3 events during her own racing days. She is a half sister to French Group 2 winner Navratilovna (by Nureyev), dam of French listed stakes winner Leo Girl (by Seattle Slew), and to French Group 3 winner Vilikaia (by Nureyev), dam of restricted stakes winner Legend of Russia (by Suave Dancer) and second dam of 2011 Nearctic Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Regally Ready and Grade 3 winner Sir Truebadour. Produced from the Swaps mare Baracala (au unraced half sister to 1974 French champion miler Nonoalco, by Nearctic, and to French Group 3 winner Stradavinsky, by Nijinsky II), Maximova is also a half sister to French listed stakes winner Moivouloirtoi (by Bering), dam of French listed stakes winner Alyzea (by King Charlemagne), and to Doigts de Fee (by L’emigrant), dam of French listed stakes winner Draconienne (by Trempolino).
Fun facts
- Malibu Moon was lucky to get to the races at all, as his dam stepped on one of his hind legs and inflicted significant injury when he was just a few days old.
- Malibu Moon's statue stands at the front of the B. Wayne Hughes Visitors Center at Spendthrift Farm. The bronze statue was created by Douwe Blumberg.
Photo credit
Portrait photo taken by Jessica Morgan at Spendthrift Farm in 2016. Used by permission.
Last updated: September 1, 2024