Green Desert has been retired from stallion duties after failing to get any mares in foal this year.  The 28-year-old covered a limited book of mares belonging to the Maktoum family at Nunnery Stud.

The champion son of Danzig will spend his retirement at the Norfolk stud where he has been based since 1990.

Green Desert (Danzig) was a G1 winner of the July Cup (beating Last Tycoon) and he was also runner-up in the English 2000 Guineas to Dancing Brave.

He was crowned England’s leading first season sire in 1990 and has since been represented by 87 individual stakes winners despite never shuttling or covering large books.

Overall, he has sired 679 individual winners world-wide at a 72% strike-rate.  His successful sire sons include Oasis Dream, Invincible Spirit, Cape Cross, Desert Style, Volksraad and Desert Sun.

“He has proven to be an outstanding sire of sires,” Darley director Sam Bullard said.  “We are fortunate enough to stand his very best son Cape Cross and leading freshman of 2008 Kheleyf.”