ROYAL ASCOT winner Tha'ir has been posted to Lilling Hall Farm and Stud at Flaxton to start his stallion career.

The six-year-old son of Derby winner New Approach was a €105,000 purchase by Godolphin at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale and was trained by Saeed Bin Suroor.

Grandson of Derby winner Galileo, he won the listed Chesham Stakes in 2012 and placed in both the Solario Stakes at Sandown and the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster as a two-year-old.

Gary Sanderson, who established the Flaxton stud four years ago after serving as a former head lad to Sheriff Hutton trainer Mick Easterby, said: "Tha'ir is a very good looking grandson of Galileo with a great pedigree and temperament to match. He was a tough and admirably consistent racehorse. He is a pleasure to deal with and, with his pedigree, will be a success at stud."

Peter Ebson, professional pedigree consultant, said: "Tha’ir hails from one of the very best female lines in the stud book. Astute breeders have the opportunity to breed stakes horses from Tha’ir, with carefully planned matings."

Now aged six, Tha'ir will stand at a fee of £3,500.