Leading French sire Green Tune was put down last weekend after fracturing his off-hind leg at Haras d’Etreham.  He has sired 255 winners to date and 26 of them have scored at black-type level.

Green Tune had just turned 20 and he was runner-up to Workforce’s sire King’s Best among France’s active sires in 2010.  His flag-bearers last year were G1 Prix du Moulin winner Fuisse and the stakes winners Pontenuovo, Zagora and Vesuve.

Green Tune (Green Dancer – Soundings by Mr. Prospector) was bred and owned by the Wertheimer family.  They retired him to the Normandy stud in 1996 after Criquette Head-Maarek trained him to G1 victories in the French 2000 Guineas and Prix d’Ispahan.  His half-sister Pas De Reponse (Danzig) later landed the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket.

Fuisse (5h Green Tune – Funny Feerie by Sillery) was his most successful runner winning four stakes races prior to the G1 Prix du Moulin at Longchamp in September.  He was also trained by Head-Maarek and will begin stud career next month at Haras du Quesnay.