Kentucky lost its second successful sire in the space of 24 hours when Summer Squall was put down at Lane’s End Farm on Tuesday.  The 22-year-old son of Storm Bird died a day after El Prado (Sadler’s Wells) succumbed to a heart attack at Adena Springs.

“He was an important part of one of our great families,” William S. Farish said about the half-brother to champion Lane’s End’s sire A.P. Indy.

Summer Squall was foaled by 1992 Broodmare of the Year Weekend Surprise (Secretariat) and was purchased by Cot Campbell’s Dogwood Stable for $300,000 at the 1988 Keeneland July yearling sale.

The Storm Bird colt was trained by Neil Howard and was unbeaten in five starts at two highlighted by the G1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga.  He ran second to Unbridled in the Kentucky Derby (G1) but turned the tables on him in the Preakness, Stakes (G1).  He returned at four to win the Fayette Handicap (G2) at Keeneland.

Summer Squall stood at Lane’s End for his entire stud career before being pensioned because of fertility issues in 2004.  He has sired 37 stakes winners including 1999 US Horse of the Year Charismatic, a G1 winner of the Kentucky Derby & Preakness Stakes as well as 1996 Champion 2yo Filly Storm Song and 2005 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Summerly.

His dam Weekend Surprise has several close relations at stud in Australia.  She is a half-sister to proven sire Foxhound (Danzig) who will stand in WA this year and to the dams of Eliza Park sire Statue Of Liberty (Storm Cat) and Bengalla Stud’s Bite The Bullet (Spectacular Bid).

Incoming Coolmore sire Duke Of Marmalade (Danehill) and Emirates Park newcomer Eavesdropper (Kingmambo) are other close relations.

Weekend Surprise died in March 2001 after foaling a Belong to Me filly.  She was buried at Lane’s End alongside her dam Lassie Dear.