Vale Sadler's Wells - champion stallion dies in Ireland.

One of the most important racehorses, and later stallions of our time, the great Sadler's Wells died in Ireland on the evening of Tuesday 26 April 2011.  He died at Coolmore's Tipperary Stud in Ireland, his home since his retirement in 1984.  The stallion was retired from breeding in 2008.

His legacy worldwide is immense.  He has left sons and daughters,  and three of his stallion sons, in Galileo, Montjeu and High Chaparral, are leading stallions in the Northern Hemisphere.  In Australia, Galileo and Montjeu had less success, however the impact of High Chaparral was immediate, and immense.  While the horse still has to repeat the success he achieved with his New Zealand bred runners, from which the Group 1 winners, and champion So You Think, were conceived, High Chaparral is still leading the Australian General Sires Title with only a couple of months of racing left.

In Europe, Montjeu and Galileo have both sired Epsom Derby winners, in Authorized and New Approach respectively  Both of these stallions are now owned by Darley, and stand the Southern Hemisphere season at Kelvinside and Northwood Park respectively (Authorized is pictured below).  Galileo is also the sire this year's Derby favourite, the unbeaten colt Frankel.  

So farewell Sadler's Wells.  I will add you to my list of great losses, of horses I wasn't able to organise to photograph.  My first trip to Ireland, that is still completely unplanned and unbooked, will well and truly be too late for you.

High Chaparral (Sadler's Wells - Kasora).  Coolmore Australia.  August 2010.
 











So You Think (High Chaparral - Triassic)
So You Think.  2010 WS Cox Plate
 
Authorized (Montjeu - Funsie).  Darley Kelvinside.  August 2010.  Epsom Derby Winner.  Grandson of Sadler's Wells.
 








Medaglia d'Oro.  Darley's "Golden Boy".  Sire of the great Rachel Alexandra in the USA.  Grandson of Sadler's Wells, through El Prado.  Photographed at Kelvinside.  August 2010.
 











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