Hat Ninja's Redemption: Stakes-Winning Sire Returns to the Spotlight

Overlooked early on despite a strong race record and an impressive pedigree, he has since found his stride at stud and will now stand at the prestigious Haras La Providencia

Hat Ninja in His Prime: Set to Stand at Haras La Providencia Beginning in 2025 / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

By Diego H. Mitagstein

It’s not often that a stallion removed from the major breeding circuit earns a second chance after proving his merit at stud. In an industry where even the most generous sires can be dismissed swiftly, the case of Hat Ninja is a rare—and welcome—exception.

Outstanding on the racetrack and boasting a formidable pedigree, the son of Hat Trick has shown through his progeny that he’s capable of producing top-class runners. That success has reignited optimism among his ownership group, now bolstered by a new partner joining an already solid project.

Haras La Providencia has officially become a shareholder in the bay stallion, who will now shuttle to their prestigious farm. Hat Ninja will continue to receive strong support from long-time backers such as El Angel de Venecia—whose colors he carried on the track—and Tiveres, among others.

A four-time winner at San Isidro, Hat Ninja captured the G3 Ensayo, G2 Provincia de Buenos Aires, and G3 Progreso, before beginning his stallion career at Haras Chenaut. In recent seasons, he had been standing at Haras Don Federico, under an exit clause should his progeny begin to shine—and shine they did.

Though his offspring had a modest start, they improved notably with time and maturity. Hat Ninja is now the sire of G1 winners Need You Tonight, Ceniza Pampa, and Folie Ninja, as well as multiple stakes winner Ninja Way, and several high-level performers such as The Gladiator's Hat, who captured Wednesday’s Hándicap Jorge H. Iglesias at San Isidro, and Moto Ninja, runner-up Tuesday in the G2 Clásico Raúl Aristegui at La Plata.

A carrier of the Sunday Silence sire line via the outstanding Hat Trick, Hat Ninja hails from a stellar female family. He is a half-brother to G1 winner Nastia (Fortify), G2 scorer Joy Nidera (Fortify), and G1-placed Nixon Joy (Fortify), all out of Stormy Nimble (Bernstein)—herself a dual G1 winner of the Eliseo Ramírez and the 1000 Guineas. She is also a full sister to G1 heroines Stormy Niña—granddam of Derby winner Niño Guapo (Catcher In the Rye)—and Stormy Ninguna, dam of G3 winner Joy Nima (Fortify). The family traces back to the influential Nipona (Babas Fables).

"With everything Hat Ninja has accomplished, the people at La Providencia got excited and this opportunity came together for him to stand there starting this season," said Mariano Semowoniuk, one of the key figures behind the move. "Don Federico did a tremendous job with him, and they remain part of the ownership. The horse has proven to be a generous sire, and this new opportunity is more than deserved."

Few comparable comebacks can be found even internationally, though a recent example was Daredevil (More Than Ready), who returned to the U.S. from Turkey after his daughters Swiss Skydiver and Shedaresthedevil achieved G1 success. He rejoined the Lane’s End roster in 2021 but couldn’t replicate his prior impact.

Hat Ninja, however, has delivered real results, and now, backed by strong partners and positioned at a major farm, he will look to keep producing top talent from the heart of Argentina’s breeding elite.