Sadler's Wells (horse)
Encyclopedia
Sadler's Wells was a Thoroughbred
racehorse that was later a leading sire in France, Great Britain & Ireland and North America during the 1990s. He was foaled in 1981 in the United States
, but achieved most of his racing and breeding fame in Europe
.
He was by the great sire, Northern Dancer
, his dam Fairy Bridge was by Bold Reason
. Sadler's Wells was the older brother to Classic Music, Tate Gallery (won BBA Goffs National Stakes etc.) and Fairy King. He was a half-brother to Perugino (by Danzig),
Hermitage (by Storm Bird) and Fairy Dancer (by Nijinsky II
).
Sadler's Wells, trained by Vincent O'Brien
, had a successful racing career as a three-year-old in 1984 when he won the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial
, the Irish 2,000 Guineas, the Eclipse Stakes
and the inaugural Phoenix Champion Stakes
. He also finished second in the Prix du Jockey Club
and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
breeding empire is founded on his success. Sadler's Wells has been Champion Sire in Great Britain & Ireland
14 times, as well as Champion Sire in France three times and North America once. He has produced over 293 stakes winners and 74 individual Group 1/Grade I
winners.
, out of the mare
Magnificent Style, was sold at the Keeneland breeding stock sale
for a world record price of US$10.5 million.
c = colt
, f = filly
On 13 May 2008 Coolmore announced that Sadler's Wells was retiring from breeding due to declining fertility.
Sadler's Wells died peacefully on 26 April 2011 at the age of 30 at Coolmore Stud.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse that was later a leading sire in France, Great Britain & Ireland and North America during the 1990s. He was foaled in 1981 in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, but achieved most of his racing and breeding fame in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
He was by the great sire, Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer was a Canadian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and the most successful sire of the 20th Century. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association calls him "one of the most influential sires in Thoroughbred history"....
, his dam Fairy Bridge was by Bold Reason
Bold Reason
Bold Reason was an American Thoroughbred racehorse and Champion broodmare sire. Bred by Harry Guggenheim, he was sired by Hail To Reason, the 1970 Leading sire in North America. His dam was Guggenheim's excellent runner Lalun who also produced Never Bend...
. Sadler's Wells was the older brother to Classic Music, Tate Gallery (won BBA Goffs National Stakes etc.) and Fairy King. He was a half-brother to Perugino (by Danzig),
Hermitage (by Storm Bird) and Fairy Dancer (by Nijinsky II
Nijinsky II
The racehorse Nijinsky was one of the greatest horses in Thoroughbred horse-racing history. He won the U.K. Triple Crown of racing. Retired to stud he became the Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland and the Leading broodmare sire in North America.He was bred at E. P...
).
Sadler's Wells, trained by Vincent O'Brien
Vincent O'Brien
Dr. Michael Vincent O'Brien was an Irish race horse trainer from Churchtown, County Cork, Ireland. In 2003 he was voted the greatest influence in horse racing history, according to a worldwide vote hosted by the Racing Post newspaper...
, had a successful racing career as a three-year-old in 1984 when he won the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial
Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial
The Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial is a Group 2 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.-History:...
, the Irish 2,000 Guineas, the Eclipse Stakes
Eclipse Stakes
The Eclipse Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 7 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early July.-History:The event is named after Eclipse, a...
and the inaugural Phoenix Champion Stakes
Irish Champion Stakes
The Irish Champion Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.-History:The event was established in 1976, and...
. He also finished second in the Prix du Jockey Club
Prix du Jockey Club
The Prix du Jockey Club, sometimes referred to as the French Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Stud record
Sadler's Wells greatest achievement came as a champion sire and much of the CoolmoreCoolmore Stud
Coolmore Stud, in Fethard, South Tipperary in Ireland, is the world's largest breeding operation of thoroughbred racehorses. It was established in 1975....
breeding empire is founded on his success. Sadler's Wells has been Champion Sire in Great Britain & Ireland
Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland
The list below shows the leading sire of racehorses in Great Britain and Ireland for each year since 1751. This is determined by the amount of prize money won by the sire's progeny during the season.----- References :* -See also:...
14 times, as well as Champion Sire in France three times and North America once. He has produced over 293 stakes winners and 74 individual Group 1/Grade I
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
winners.
Notable progeny
In November 2007, a Sadler's Wells daughter, Playful ActPlayful Act
Playful Act is an Thoroughbred racehorse and the world's most expensive broodmare. Owned and bred by prominent British owner/breeder Robert Sangster, she was sired by the extremely important Champion Sire Sadler's Wells, she was out of the mare Magnificent Style, a granddaughter of the 1972 Epsom...
, out of the mare
Mare (horse)
A mare is an adult female horse or other equine.In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse age three and younger. However, in Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four years old; in harness racing a mare is a...
Magnificent Style, was sold at the Keeneland breeding stock sale
Keeneland Sales
The Keeneland Sales is an American Thoroughbred auction house in Lexington, Kentucky founded in 1935 as a nonprofit racing/auction entity on 147 acres of farmland west of Lexington, which had been owned by Jack O. Keene...
for a world record price of US$10.5 million.
c = colt
Colt (horse)
A colt is a young male horse, under the age of four. The term "colt" is often confused with foal, which refers to a horse of either sex under one year of age....
, f = filly
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
| Foaled | Name | Sex | Major Wins |
| 1986 | In the Wings In the Wings (horse) In the Wings was a Thoroughbred racehorse who raced from a base in France. Bred and raced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and trained in France by André Fabre, on June 17, 1988 at Chantilly Racecourse, In the Wings made a winning debut in the 1988 Prix de Vineuil under jockey Cash Asmussen... |
c | Coronation Cup Coronation Cup The Coronation Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.... , G. P. de Saint-Cloud Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud The Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Saint-Cloud over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late June.-History:... , Breeders' Cup Turf Breeders' Cup Turf The Breeders' Cup Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for three-year-olds and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. The race's current title sponsor is Emirates Airlines.The forerunner... |
| 1986 | Old Vic | c | Prix du Jockey Club Prix du Jockey Club The Prix du Jockey Club, sometimes referred to as the French Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies... , Irish Derby Irish Derby Stakes The Irish Derby is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late June or early July.It is Ireland's equivalent of the Epsom Derby,... |
| 1987 | Salsabil | f | 1,000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks Epsom Oaks The Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early June.... , Irish Derby, Prix Vermeille Prix Vermeille The Prix Vermeille is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.-History:The event was established in 1897, and it... |
| 1988 | Opera House Opera House (horse) Opera House is a retired British thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. As a racehorse, he is best known for his performances as a five-year-old in 1993, when he won three Group One races and was named European Champion Older Horse... |
c | Coronation Cup, Eclipse Eclipse Stakes The Eclipse Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 7 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early July.-History:The event is named after Eclipse, a... , K George VI & Q Elizabeth |
| 1989 | El Prado El Prado (horse) El Prado was a retired Thoroughbred racehorse and Champion sire. He was sired by Sadler's Wells, who was a fourteen-time Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland. Out of the mare, Lady Capulet, his damsire was Sir Ivor whose wins included the 1968 Epsom Derby, 2,000 Guineas Stakes, and Washington,... |
c | 1991 Irish Champion Two-Year-Old Colt, 2002 Leading sire in North America Leading sire in North America The list below shows the leading sire of Thoroughbred racehorses in North America for each year since 1830. This is determined by the amount of prizemoney won by the sire's progeny during the year... |
| 1990 | Barathea Barathea (horse) Barathea was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse, best known for winning the 1994 Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs. He went on to become a successful stallion.-Background:... |
c | Irish 2,000 Guineas, Breeders' Cup Mile Breeders' Cup Mile The Breeders' Cup Mile is a Grade 1 Weight for Age stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up, run on a grass course. It has been conducted annually as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships since the event's inception in 1984... |
| 1990 | Fort Wood | c | G. P. de Paris Grand Prix de Paris The Grand Prix de Paris is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.-History:... |
| 1990 | Intrepidity | f | Prix Saint-Alary Prix Saint-Alary The Prix Saint-Alary is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.... , Epsom Oaks, Prix Vermeille |
| 1991 | Carnegie | c | Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the... , G. P. de Saint-Cloud |
| 1991 | King's Theatre King's Theatre (horse) King's Theatre was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire who was trained in the United Kingdom in a racing career which lasted from 1993 to 1996. He is best known for winning the 1994 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He later became a sire of both flat racers and... |
c | K George VI & Q Elizabeth |
| 1991 | Northern Spur Northern Spur Northern Spur was a Thoroughbred racehorse who raced in France and the United States. Bred at Robert Sangster's Swettenham Stud in Swettenham, Cheshire, England, he was a son of the champion sire Sadler's Wells and out of the mare, Fruition... |
c | Breeders' Cup Turf |
| 1992 | Istabraq Istabraq Istabraq is a retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who was most famous for his hurdling. He had an exceptional pedigree, being the produce of Sadler's Wells, a son of Northern Dancer, and a Secretariat mare making him a three-quarter brother to Epsom Derby winner Secreto. He won the Champion... |
c | Champion Hurdle Champion Hurdle The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. As part of a sponsorship agreement with the online sportsbook StanJames.com, the race is now known as the Stan James Champion Hurdle... x 3 |
| 1992 | Moonshell | f | Epsom Oaks |
| 1993 | Water Poet | c | Six-time leading sire in Venezuela (2004-2009) |
| 1994 | Ebadiyla | f | Irish Oaks Irish Oaks The Irish Oaks is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.... , Prix Royal-Oak Prix Royal-Oak The Prix Royal-Oak is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 3,100 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late October.-History:The event was established in 1861, and it was initially... |
| 1994 | Entrepreneur | c | 2,000 Guineas |
| 1994 | Kayf Tara Kayf Tara Kayf Tara is a United Kingdom Thoroughbred racehorse owned by Godolphin Stables who won the Cartier European Top Stayer three years in a row from 1998, through 2000.... |
c | Ascot Gold Cup Ascot Gold Cup The Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.... x 2, Irish St. Leger x 2 |
| 1995 | Dream Well | c | Prix du Jockey Club, Irish Derby |
| 1995 | King of Kings | c | 2,000 Guineas |
| 1996 | Montjeu Montjeu Montjeu , is a thoroughbred horse racing World Champion colt and sire of champions. Sired by Sadler's Wells from the dam Floripedes, Montjeu is a grandson of Northern Dancer.... |
c | Prix du Jockey Club, Irish Derby, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, G. P. de Saint-Cloud, K George VI & Q Elizabeth |
| 1997 | Beat Hollow Beat Hollow Beat Hollow is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse who won four Group/Grade 1 races in Europe and the United States.... |
c | G. P. de Paris, Arlington Million Arlington Million The Arlington Million is a Grade 1 flathorse race in the United States for thoroughbred horses aged three years and upward. It is raced over a distance of 1¼ miles on the turf at Arlington Park, Arlington Heights, Illinois in August each year... |
| 1998 | Galileo Galileo (horse) Galileo is a retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. He is best known for winning the Epsom Derby, Irish Derby Stakes, and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2001 and for his rivalry with the Godolphin champion Fantastic Light... |
c | Epsom Derby Epsom Derby The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies... , Irish Derby, K George VI & Q Elizabeth |
| 1998 | Imagine | f | Irish 1,000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks |
| 1998 | Milan | c | St. Leger St. Leger Stakes The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger... |
| 1999 | High Chaparral High Chaparral High Chaparral is a racehorse, winner of the Epsom Derby in 2002, and the winner of the Breeders' Cup Turf in 2002 and 2003 .-2001: Two-year-old season:... |
c | Epsom Derby, Irish Derby, Irish Champion Stakes Irish Champion Stakes The Irish Champion Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.-History:The event was established in 1976, and... , Breeders' Cup Turf x 2 |
| 1999 | Islington | f | Yorkshire Oaks Yorkshire Oaks The Yorkshire Oaks is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August.... x 2, Nassau Stakes Nassau Stakes The Nassau Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile, 1 furlong and 192 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August.-History:The title of... , Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf The Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for fillies and mares, three years old and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships.... |
| 2000 | Brian Boru | c | St. Leger |
| 2000 | Powerscourt | c | Arlington Million |
| 2000 | Doyen Doyen (horse) Doyen is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse, who was bred in Ireland but trained in France, Dubai and the United Kingdom during a racing career which lasted from 2002 to 2005... |
c | K George VI & Q Elizabeth |
| 2000 | Refuse to Bend Refuse To Bend Refuse To Bend is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse. He was owned by Swiss businessman Walter Haefner and was bred at his Moyglare Stud Farm near the town of Maynooth, County Kildare, in Ireland... |
c | 2,000 Guineas, Queen Anne Queen Anne Stakes The Queen Anne Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.... , Eclipse |
| 2001 | Yeats Yeats (horse) Yeats is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who won seven Group One races and is the only horse ever to win the Ascot Gold Cup four times in succession.-Breeding:... |
c | Coronation Cup, Ascot Gold Cup x 4, Irish St. Leger |
| 2002 | Playful Act Playful Act Playful Act is an Thoroughbred racehorse and the world's most expensive broodmare. Owned and bred by prominent British owner/breeder Robert Sangster, she was sired by the extremely important Champion Sire Sadler's Wells, she was out of the mare Magnificent Style, a granddaughter of the 1972 Epsom... |
f | Fillies Mile |
| 2003 | Alexandrova Alexandrova (horse) Alexandrova is a thoroughbred bay filly, the daughter of Sadler's Wells out the dam Shouk. She is the granddaughter of Northern Dancer, her damsire is Shirley Heights.... |
f | Epsom Oaks, Irish Oaks, Yorkshire Oaks |
| 2003 | Ask | f | Coronation Cup |
On 13 May 2008 Coolmore announced that Sadler's Wells was retiring from breeding due to declining fertility.
Sadler's Wells died peacefully on 26 April 2011 at the age of 30 at Coolmore Stud.