Champion sprinter Dayjur has been put down at Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Farm in Kentucky.  The son of Danzig was 26.

“Dayjur was one great racehorse,” Shadwell general manager Rick Nichols said.  “He was the cornerstone of our stallion operation and was a wonderful horse to be around.”

A $1.65 million graduate from the 1988 Keeneland July yearling sale, he won the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup, G1 Nunthorpe Stakes and G1 Prix de l’Abbaye under the guidance of trainer Dick Hern.

In the 1990 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Belmont, Dayjur engaged champion filly Safely Kept at the top of the straight and pulled ahead only to jump a shadow nearing the post to lose by a neck.

Dayjur (Danzig – Gold Beauty by Mr. Prospector) retired to Shadwell and sired 19 crops before being pensioned in 2010.  Among his 30 stakes winners was G1 Middle Park Stakes winner Hayil, G2 winners Asfurah and Tipsy Creek and G3 winners New Advantage and In Conference.

Sold to stand in Queensland, Hayil (USA) initially stood at Lyndhurst Stud in Warwick and is now based at Monteal Lodge east of Toowoomba.

DAYJUR