NEWS
Sadler’s Wells pensioned at 27
Posted: Monday, May 12, 2008 2:24 PM
SADLER'S WELLS IN 2002
Photo by Z
by Jeff Lowe
Sadler’s Wells, the first sire to reach 200 stakes winners, has been pensioned due to declining fertility at age 27.
The Northern Dancer stallion out of Fairy Bridge, by Bold Reason, stood for a private fee in 2008 at Coolmore in County Tipperary, Ireland.
Sadler’s Wells reached 200 stakes winners in 2002, and he is now five away from joining Danehill with 300 or more. His most distinguished runners include 22 classic winners and a record six Breeders’ Cup winners.
Sadler’s Wells was the leading sire in England and Ireland a record 14 times, including 13 years in succession from 1992 to 2004. He spent his entire stud career at Coolmore’s Irish base.
"I think Sadler's Wells is generally acknowledged as the best sire Europe has ever seen and we feel very privileged to have been associated with him,” Coolmore manager Christy Grassick said. "Despite his advancing years, he is still in remarkably good condition and I hope he enjoys a long and happy retirement. His influence will be felt for many years to come and in Galileo (Ire), Montjeu (Ire) and High Chaparral (Ire), we are delighted to have his three best sons at Coolmore."
High Chaparral, Sadler’s Wells’s leading earner, collected $5,321,231 in purses while winning the 2002 Epsom Derby (Eng-G1), Irish Derby (Ire-G1), and consecutive editions of the John Deere Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) in ’02 and ‘03.
Montjeu won the 1999 Irish Derby, Emirates Airline Prix du Jockey Club (Fr-G1) (French Derby), and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1).
Galileo swept the 2001 Irish Derby, Epsom Derby, and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (Eng-G1).
Sadler’s Wells also sired In the Wings (GB), the 1990 champion turf male and Breeders’ Cup Turf winner; ’94 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) winner Barathea; Northern Spur (Ire), the ‘95 champion turf male and Breeders’ Cup Turf winner; Islington (Ire), the 2003 champion turf female and Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) winner; and Canadian champion Perfect Soul (Ire).
His Group 1-winning daughter, Playful Act (Ire), set a world record for a broodmare at public auction when she sold for $10.5-million in the 2007 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. Another daughter, Liffey Dancer (Ire), brought $5.3-million in the 2007 Tattersalls October sale, a world record for a yearling filly.
Sadler’s Wells is sixth on the all-time list as the broodmare sire of 196 stakes winners through May 12. He was the leading broodmare sire in England and Ireland the last three years, and he ranked fifth on the North American list in 2007.
Bred in Kentucky by Swettenham Stud and Partners, Sadler’s Wells won the 1984 Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1), Phoenix Champion Stakes (Ire-G1), and Coral Eclipse Stakes (Eng-G1) for trainer Vincent O’Brien.
Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer
