Multiple Grade 2 winner Twining, who has sired 13 stakes winners in his first four crops, will return from Japan to stand the 2002 season at Wimbledon Farm near Lexington. The ten-year-old son of Forty Niner out of 1983 Broodmare of the Year Courtly Dee, by Never Bend, will stand for $10,000. Twining, who stood the last two years at the East Stud on the island of Hokkaido, Japan, will remain the property of the East Stud. Twining's return was brokered by Wimbledon and Coolmore Stud.

Twining has sired 139 individual winners from 191 starters, including 2001 graded stakes winners Two Item Limit, Connected, Tugger, and Top Hit.

Twining, who has also sired 14 stakes-placed runners, has lifetime progeny earnings of $9,925,792 through Wednesday. He was ranked 18th on the most recent North American general sire list with seasonal progeny earnings of $4,768,396 through Tuesday.

Two Item Limit has been one of the country's top three-year-old fillies in 2001 with victories in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) at Pimlico Race Course and Comely Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct. She placed in four other stakes events this year, including a third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). She has won six of 18 career starts, including the 2000 Demoiselle Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct, and has earned $906,810.

Connected has won four of nine starts in 2001, including the Fayette (G3) and Warfield Stakes at Keeneland. He has won eight of 22 career starts and earned $436,825.

In addition to his 2001 graded stakes winners, Twining has sired stakes winners First Stringer, Dawn of the Condor, My Golden Son, Folly May Pay, Knot So Clever, Golden Tangle, Anclote, Starship Miss, and Cloudy Mist.

Twining stood his first five seasons at Wimbledon, including the 1999 season for $15,000.

"We are excited to bring Twining back for 2002 after the hugely successful year his progeny have enjoyed," said Wimbledon spokesman George Hoskins. "Twining's return is a wonderful Christmas present for the U.S. Thoroughbred breeder."

A half brother to seven stakes winners, including champion and Grade 1 winner Althea, Twining won five of six career starts during his lone season on the track for $238,140 in earnings. He won the 1994 Peter Pan (G2) and Withers (G2) Stakes at Belmont Park and was second in the Dwyer Stakes (G2).