Leading German sire Dashing Blade has been put down due to neurological problems.  He was 26 and had only recently been pensioned at Gestut Etzean near Frankfurt.

Bred in Great Britain, Dashing Blade (Elegant Air) won the G1 Dewhurst Stakes and G1 Irish National Stakes.  Back in action at three, he captured the G1 Gran Premio d’Italia and was runner-up in the G2 Prix Eugene Adam at Maisons-Laffitte.

Retiring to stud in 1991, Dashing Blade became one of Europe’s leading sires and, at last count, had sired 67 stakes winners among 533 individual winners.  His daughters have produced notable Group 1 winners Stacelita, Barshiba and Earl Of Tinsdal.