Darley’s Group 1 racehorse and sire Singspiel has been put down after developing laminitis following a long illness.  He was 18.  

“Singspiel has been a huge part of Sheikh Mohammed breeding and racing operation for many years,” Darley bloodstock advisor John Ferguson said on Saturday.  “He was an outstandingly tough racehorse who was able to pass it on to many of his progeny who performed around the world.  He has been admired and supported industry-wide in Australia, Europe, Japan and the USA where he has produced racehorses of the highest calibre.”

Foaled at Darley’s Kildangan Stud in Ireland in 1992, Singspiel was a homebred son of In The Wings and Canadian Horse of the Year Glorious Song (Halo).  He was trained by Sir Michael Stoute and captured the G1 Canadian International and Japan Cup in 1996 before adding the Dubai World Cup, Coronation Cup and Juddmonte International in 1997.

Singspiel developed into a powerful force as a stallion.  He became the only Dubai World Cup winner to sire a Dubai World Cup winner when his first-crop son Moon Ballad triumphed at Nad al Sheba in 2003.

In a stud career that spanned 12 years, Singspiel has so far sired 12 Group 1 winners among 73 black type winners.  His elite level winners include Papineau (Ascot Gold Cup), Hibaayeb (Fillies Mile), Dar Re Mi (Dubai Sheema Classic), Confidential Lady (French Oaks), Asakusa Den’ En (Yasuda Kinen) and Lahudood (BC Filly & Mare Turf).

The best of his Australian stock was Shadwell Estates filly Rewaaya who was a Group 1 winner of the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield.  His other southern-hemisphere bred stakes winners included Belmonte (G3 BTC Doomben Classic), A Country Girl (G3 STC Millie Fox Stakes) and Operetta Lass (G3 AJC Adrian Knox Stakes).