NEWS
Perennial European leading sire Sadler’s Wells dead at 30
Posted: Tuesday, April 26, 2011 2:13 PM
SADLER'S WELLS
PhotosByZ.com
by Jeff Lowe
Sadler’s Wells, the first sire to reach 200 stakes winners, died on Tuesday at Coolmore Stud in Ireland, where he had been pensioned since 2008. He was 30.
The Northern Dancer stallion out of Fairy Bridge, by Bold Reason, sired his 200th stakes winner in 2002 and joined Danehill as the only stallions to exceed 300. He died with 324, according to statistics through Monday from the Jockey Club.
“He was undoubtedly the best sire Europe has ever seen and … his influence looks set to continue for many years to come,” Coolmore General Manager Christy Grassick said. “We all feel privileged to have been involved with such a special horse.”
Sadler's Wells led the English-Irish sire list a record 14 times and also led the French sire list four times.
Coolmore stands Sadler’s Wells’ sons Galileo (Ire), High Chaparral (Ire), Montjeu (Ire), and Yeats (Ire).
Galileo is the sire of unbeaten classics prospect and champion Frankel.
High Chaparral, Sadler’s Wells’s leading earner, collected $5,321,231 in purses while winning the 2002 Vodafone Epsom Derby (Eng-G1), Budweiser Irish Derby (Ire-G1), and consecutive editions of the John Deere Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) in 2002 and 2003.
Montjeu captured the 1999 Irish Derby, Emirates Airline Prix du Jockey Club (Fr-G1) (French Derby), and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barriere (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 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner; 1994 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) winner Barathea (Ire); Northern Spur (Ire), the 1995 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 (which has since been broken) when she sold for $10.5-million during the 2007 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. Another daughter, Liffey Dancer (Ire), brought $5.3-million at the 2007 Tattersalls October sale, a world record for a yearling filly.
Sadler’s Wells is the broodmare sire of 266 stakes winners through April 25, including champion Conduit (Ire) and French and English highweight Sakhe.
Bred in Kentucky by Swettenham Stud and Partners, Sadler’s Wells won the 1984 Airlie Coolmore 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
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: Duane, Somewhere in, OH on April 27, 2011 at 04:50 PM
While the great ones may pass on, they never truly die. He'll live forever in his offspring. Rest In Peace.
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Posted by: Ange, Vancouver, BC on April 27, 2011 at 11:23 AM
Wow, 30 years old. What a good long life he lived. But, he will live on forever in his amazing sons & daughters, grandsons & granddaughters. What a legacy.
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Posted by: Kathy, San Diego, CA on April 27, 2011 at 02:01 AM
RIP old boy! Sadler's Wells was one of the greats!
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Posted by: john, Columbiaville, MI on April 26, 2011 at 08:50 PM
My friend and I went to Ireland in 2010 to see Sadlers Wells. What a thrill to see him in all his glory. The king himself. I will always treasure my picture of Sadlers Wells, my friend Pat and myself. Thanks Eddie. Let us not forget his daddy either, the great Northern Dancer. R.I.P. friends.
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Posted by: JR, Destin, FL on April 26, 2011 at 08:32 PM
He will live on through his bad-ass broodmares!
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