A day after his older brother claimed the Australian sires’ premiership, Niello was put down at Chatswood Stud.
Studmaster Greg Willis advised the stallion broke his off-foreleg in a paddock accident at the Seymour nursery.
A brother to Lonhro, he was a Group 1 winner in his own right winning the 2003 AJC Spring Champion Stakes and the 2004 STC Canterbury – Rosehill Guineas double.
Niello (Octagonal) stood for an $8,800 fee last year. He has sired 46 winners of 78 races from three crops of racing age. Their wining strike-rate is 38%.
Chatswood also lost Rakti last December. The Polish Precedent stallion had just completed covering his fourth book of mares when a pelvic fracture pierced an artery.
Willis signed G1 Blue Diamond winner Reward For Effort to start his stud career at Chatswood in 2011. The son of Exceed And Excel will join a roster that comprises Amadeus Wolf (Mozart), Primus (Flying Spur) and evergreen Racer’s Edge (Rory’s Jester).