Sadler's Wells (horse)
Sadler's Wells | |
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Sire | Leading broodmare sire in Britain & Ireland (2005–2011)Leading broodmare sire in North America (2008–2010) Timeform rating: 132 |
Sadler's Wells (11 April 1981 – 26 April 2011) was an American-bred, Irish-trained champion
Despite his success as a runner, it is as a sire that Sadler's Wells is best known. He was the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland a record-setting 14 times, including 13 titles in a row. At the time of his death, he had sired 323 stakes winners. Only Danehill, who was operational across both hemispheres, sired more. Sadler's Wells was also a notable sire of sires, including Galileo and Montjeu in Europe, and El Prado in the United States.[2] He helped reverse a trend from the middle of the twentieth century where many of Europe's most successful racehorses were exported to stand in the United States and later Japan.
Background
Sadler's Wells was a bay horse with a broad white
In 1976, Sangster, O'Brien and Magnier made one of their most important purchases for only $40,000 ($210,000
The colt was sent into training with Vincent O'Brien at Ballydoyle. Throughout his racing career, Sadler's Wells had a characteristic running style, galloping with his head at an unusually high angle.[9] He was a well-balanced horse with good tactical speed standing 16 hands (64 inches, 163 cm) high.[10] Even as a sire, he was noted for his laid-back, good-natured temperament, a trait he passed on to many of his offspring.[11]
Racing career
1983: two-year-old season
Sadler's Wells made his first appearance in September at
1984: three-year-old season
Sadler's Wells met El Gran Senor on the racecourse for the only time when he finished second to him in the seven-furlong Gladness Stakes at the Curragh. Frank McNulty, head of BBA Ireland, later commented: "I remember seeing him at the Gladness Stakes—when he walked into the ring I thought he looked absolutely magnificent, even though he was only the second string."[13] Sadler's Wells next won the ten-furlong Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial and was then brought back in distance for the Irish 2,000 Guineas over one mile, where he was ridden by George McGrath. In a closely contested finish, he won from the French-trained Procida and the favourite Secreto. The O'Brien-trained Capture Him, whom Eddery chose to ride in preference to Sadler's Wells, finished fourth.[9]
Instead of going for the one-mile
Sadler's Wells failed to reproduce his best form when fourth in the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup at York. Two weeks later he ran in the inaugural Phoenix Champion Stakes, the most valuable race ever in Ireland. The colt held off a late challenge from Seattle Song to win by three-quarters of a length. That success took his prize money for the season to £384,114. At the time, this was the fourth-highest single-season total for any horse trained in Britain or Ireland, behind Troy (£408,424 in 1979), Tolomeo (£400,000 in 1983) and Shergar (£386,410 in 1981). On his last appearance, Sadler's Wells was sent to Longchamp in October for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, where he finished eighth behind Sagace.[9]
Assessment
Sadler's Wells was given a rating of 90 by the International Classification, making him the sixth-best European horse in 1984.[9] He earned a Timeform rating of 132 for his victory in the Eclipse Stakes.[14] British breeder Bob McCreery would later say, "I was absolutely convinced Sadler's Wells was the real deal. I always admired his guts. He was a very tough horse, and that's one thing I've really always tried to go for, courage. He was absolutely ideal, the ideal horse."[13]
Stud record
In 1985, Sadler's Wells was syndicated by Coolmore for €800,000 a share (total value of €32m)[13] and stood for an initial fee of IR£125,000. He was an immediate success when his first crop reached racing age in 1988, led by In the Wings and Old Vic. Two other colts from that crop, Scenic and Prince of Dance, dead-heated in the 1988 Dewhurst Stakes.[15] In 1989 with only two crops of racing age, he set a world record by having 11 stakes winners in one year, an exceptional achievement at a time when foal crops were much smaller than today. For 1990, his stud fee increased to £150,000 with a book of 65 mares. Eamonn Phelan of Coolmore commented, "Very few stallions get offspring like themselves, but this fellow does. He's so tough and very well bred as well as being very sound."[11]
In 1990, his daughter Salsabil won the
Sadler's Wells has been called one of the most influential sires of all times, especially based on his record in the
By 2001, his stud fee had increased to £200,000 with a book of roughly 200 mares each year.
Notable progeny
c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding,
Sadler's Wells was also a highly successful broodmare sire, leading that category in Great Britain and Ireland from 2005 to 2010, and the United States from 2008 to 2010. By 2010, his daughters had produced more than 250 stakes winners, including 30 in 2010 alone. He is the maternal grandsire of such notable horses as Workforce (Epsom Derby, Arc de Triomphe),[28] Sakhee (Arc de Triomphe), Henrythenavigator (2000 Guineas), Taghrooda (Epsom Oaks), Peeping Fawn (Champion Filly), and Conduit (St Leger).[29]
In November 2007, a Sadler's Wells daughter, Playful Act, out of the mare Magnificient Style, was sold at the Keeneland breeding stock sale for a world-record price of US$10.5 million.
Sire of sires
Sadler's Wells was originally considered a disappointment as a sire of sires,[15] despite some early success by In the Wings in particular. This assessment was decisively overturned by the performance of several sons from his later crops. Sadler's Wells eventually sired 32 sons who themselves sired at least one group I or grade I winner, with 10 of them becoming the leading sire in nine different countries.[30] Most notably, Galileo became the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland in 2008, then won 11 titles in succession from 2010 to 2020.[31] Montjeu was the leading sire in France for 2005,[32] El Prado became Leading sire in North America in 2002,[33] Fort Wood was a leading sire in South Africa, Opera House achieved success in Japan[15] and High Chaparral became a notable sire in New Zealand and Australia.[34]
His sons have already produced important sires themselves, ensuring Sadler's Wells legacy will continue for years to come. Galileo's sire sons include Frankel, Teofilo, New Approach and Nathaniel (sire of two time Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Enable). Montjeu sired Motivator (sire of two time Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Treve) and Camelot (the leading 2nd Crop sire in Europe in 2018 and 3rd Crop Sire in Europe in 2019).[35] El Prado sired Medaglia d'Oro (sire of American Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra) and Kitten's Joy, the leading sire in North America in 2013[36] and 2018.
Retirement
On 13 May 2008 Coolmore announced that Sadler's Wells was retiring from breeding due to declining fertility.[37] Bill Oppenheim, a columnist with Thoroughbred Daily News, wrote that Sadler's Wells "singlehandedly restored the reputation of Europe as a place where you could stand world-class stallions after European stallion ranks had been decimated by the Americans in the 1970s and 1980s."[38] In 2009, Sadler's Wells was the first horse to be entered into the Irish Thoroughbred Breeder Association's Hall of Fame.[39]
Sadler's Wells died peacefully on 26 April 2011 due to natural causes at the age of 30 at Coolmore Stud.[40][41] Breeding industry expert Andrew Caulfield stated: "Superlatives are greatly overused in the world of sport, but no-one could begrudge their being used about Sadler's Wells, with his phenomenal record of 14 sires' championships in the space of 15 years. No stallion has come close to such dominance in Britain and Ireland – not even the legendary stallions which operated during the much less competitive eras of the 18th and 19th centuries. He was also dominant in that it was usually easy to spot one of his progeny. A dominant bay who sometimes passed on his prominent blaze and a sock or two, he also became synonymous with soundness and dependability."[15]
The horse's skeleton is on display in Fethard Horse Country Experience museum, which is located in Fethard Town Hall, not far from Coolmore Stud.[42]
Pedigree
Sadler's Wells was sired by Northern Dancer, who has been called the dominant progenitor of the breed in the twentieth century. In his second crop foaled in 1967, Northern Dancer sired Nijinsky, who would win the
Sadler's Wells was out of Fairy Bridge, who was sold as a yearling in 1976 at the Keeneland Sales to Sangster for $40,000 and became the Irish champion two-year-old filly of 1977. Sadler's Wells was her first live foal, followed by his full siblings
Sire Northern Dancer (CAN) 1961 |
Nearctic (CAN) 1954 |
Nearco | Pharos |
---|---|---|---|
Nogara | |||
Lady Angela | Hyperion | ||
Sister Sarah | |||
Natalma (USA) 1957 |
Native Dancer | Polynesian | |
Geisha | |||
Almahmoud | Mahmoud | ||
Arbitrator | |||
Dam Fairy Bridge (USA) 1975 |
Bold Reason (USA) 1968 |
Hail to Reason
|
Turn-To |
Nothirdchance | |||
Lalun
|
Djeddah | ||
Be Faithful | |||
Special (USA) 1969 |
Forli | Aristophanes | |
Trevisa | |||
Thong | Nantallah | ||
Rough Shod (Family 5-h)[8] |
See also
References
- ^ "Sadler's Wells Horse Pedigree". pedigreequery.com. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ a b c McKenna, P. G. (January 2015). "Vincent O'Brien Biography" – via researchgate.net.
- ^ Oakford, Glenye Cain. "Robert Sangster dead". drf.com. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ Schmitz, David. "Bold Place in History". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ "Sadler's Wells Bloodlines". Betting Market. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
- ^ a b Thomas, Robert McG. Jr. (17 November 1990). "Northern Dancer, One of Racing's Great Sires, Is Dead". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- ^ Australian Stud Book: Fairy Bridge (USA) 1975 Retrieved 18 November 2010
- ^ a b "Ann of the Forest – Family 5-h". Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
- ^ ISBN 0-900599-40-5.
- ^ a b c Avalyn Hunter. "Sadler's Wells (horse)". American Classic Pedigrees. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ a b O'Connor, Brian (3 September 1990). "Well worth his weight in gold". The Irish Times. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ISBN 0-900599-40-5.
- ^ a b c Pagones, Rachel. "How a stud legend was conceived". Retrieved 23 July 2016 – via The Free Library.
- ^ Armytage, Marcus. "Coral-Eclipse: The Top 10 winners of the past 40 years". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f "Tribute to Sadler's Wells". ownerbreeder.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ "Legendary sire Sadler's Wells dies aged 30". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 29 April 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ "Sadler's Wells – The King of Epsom". blacktypepedigree.com. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ "English Classic Winners". highflyer.supanet.com. Archived from the original on 30 November 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ "Northern Dancer sire line". tbheritage.com. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ a b "Sadler's Wells breeds success". BBC. 8 June 2001. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ "Irish Classic Winners". highflyer.supanet.com. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ Goode, Kristen Ingwell. "Sadler's Wells has 200th Stakes Winner". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ "Danehill First to Sire 300 Stakes Winners". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ "Sadler's Wells Reaches Another Milestone". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ Oppenheim, Bill (27 February 2003). "The Royal Ascot of Jumping" (PDF). Thoroughbred Daily News. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
- ^ "Sadler's Wells". Racing Post. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
- ^ "Stakes Winners by Sadler's Wells". www.pedigreequery.com. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
- ^ Peters, Anne. "Leading broodmare sire of 2010: Sadler's Wells". drf.com. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ Whitelaw, Sarah (1 October 2014). "Europe's greatest sires of the past 20 years". sportingpost.co.za. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ Sparkman, John P. "Pedigree Analysis – Worldwide Wells". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
- ^ "Leading Sires of Great Britain and Ireland". TB Heritage. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
- ^ "Leading Sires of France". TB Heritage. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
- ^ "Leading Sires of America". TB Heritage. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
- ^ "High Chaparral – One Stallion, Two Hemispheres, Two Approaches". blacktypepedigree.com. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ "Leading Sires". Stallion Guide. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
- ^ "Chef-de-Race: El Prado". chef-de-race.com. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ "Champ sire Sadler's Wells retires". BBC Sport. 13 May 2008. Retrieved 13 May 2008.
- ^ Exelby, Nathan. "Salute To Sadler's Wells' Australasian Contribution". racingandsports.com.au. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ "Sadler's Wells joins ITBA Hall of Fame | UK Bloodstock News". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
- ^ "Super sire Sadler's Wells dies at Coolmore Stud". The Guardian. 26 April 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
- ^ "Sadler's Wells passes away at 30". The Irish Times. 26 April 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
- ^ 'Fethard Horse Country Experience Museum Open'. Thoroughbred Daily News, 2 June 2017, retrieved 21 July 2022
- ^ "Sadler's Wells retired from stud duty – Handicappers' Edge". brisnet.com. Archived from the original on 14 September 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
- ^ "Thoroughbred Pedigrees". Equineline. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2013.