English Group 1-placed stakes winner Ascot Knight, the sire of multiple Grade 1 winner Influent and 1994 Canadian champion older mare Pennyhill Park, has been pensioned because of declining health.

The 24-year-old Danzig horse out of Bambee T. T., by Better Bee, stood at Windfields Farm in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, since entering stud in 1989. Ascot Knight was slated to stand for $2,500 this year.

Ascot Knight is the sire of 365 winners in 17 crops of racing age who compiled $28,482,692 in progeny earnings through Thursday.  His 33 stakes winners include ten graded or group stakes winners.

Ascot Knight’s top progeny include Influent, the winner of the 1997 Man o’ War Stakes (G1) and Caesars International Handicap (G1) and graded stakes winners Pennyhill Park, Hey Hazel, Scotman, Plenty of Sugar, and Ascot Yael.

Gainsborough Farm purchased Ascot Knight for $1.4-million at the 1985 Keeneland July select yearling sale. Ascot Knight made all but one of his ten career starts in England, posting two wins and earning $200,232.

Ascot Knight won the 1987 Mecca Bookmakers’ Scottish Derby Stakes. The bay horse also finished second in the ’87 Matchmaker International Stakes (Eng-G1).

Ascot Knight is a full brother to Spanish Horse of the Year and sire Petit Loup, and is a half brother 1984 Canadian champion turf male Bounding Away. Notable family members include Grade 1 winner and leading Canadian sire Alydeed, Grade 2 winner Tenpins, and multiple stakes winner and sire Clever Trick.