Kentucky based Airdrie Stud has confirmed its top stallion Indian Charlie was put down on Thursday.  The 16-year-old son of In Excess had been battling cancer.

As a racehorse, Indian Charlie only made five starts but won four times for trainer Bob Baffert and owners Hal Earnhardt and John Gaines.

Indian Charlie was bred in California by Earnhardt and his victory over Real Quiet in the 1998 G1 Santa Anita Derby sent him to Louisville as the early favourite for the Kentucky Derby.

Sent off at 5-2 in the 15-horse field, Indian Charlie finished third to Real Quiet in what would be his last start.  He was in training to return in the G1 Haskell Invitational but was retired after pulling a suspensory in trackwork at Del Mar.

Indian Charlie began his stud career at Vinery Kentucky and stood his first four seasons there before moving to Airdrie Stud in 2003.  His ongoing success at stud saw his fee rise for six consecutive years from $12,500 in 2004 to $70,000 in 2011.

Indian Charlie is the sire of three North American champions headed by last year’s G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Uncle Mo who retires to Ashford Stud in 2012.

“It’s obviously very sad news.  He was an incredible sire and will be missed,” said Mike Repole, who raced Uncle Mo.  “I bought two Indian Charlie yearlings last year and one the year before.  Hopefully the current and future sons of Indian Charlie will be able to carry on his legacy.”

Indian Charlie was also the sire of champions Indian Blessing and Fleet Indian.  Indian Blessing was a G1 winner of the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies then returned the following year to land the female sprinter Eclipse Award.

Fleet Indian was named champion older female of 2006 after stringing together eight consecutive victories including the G1 Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga and G1 Beldame Stakes at Belmont Park.