200 STAKES WINNERS FOR
STALLION LEGEND

By Sarah Whitelaw
28 June 2002


Sadler’s Wells has become the first stallion to be represented by 200 stakes winners. The pride of Coolmore reached this landmark when Morozov won the group 3 Prix du Lys at Longchamp. The Andre Fabre trained three year old defeated another son of Sadler’s Wells, Suleiman, into second with a grandson, Swing Wing, back in third. 

Sadler’s Wells has had another excellent season, capped off by his son High Chaparral’s impressive Epsom Derby win. This provided him with back to back wins in the Blue Riband following Galileo’s win last year. His daughter, Gossamer, also led home a 1-2-3 for the sire legend in the Irish 1000 Guineas.

As another mark of his dominance, Sadler’s Wells had the first and fourth in this race last year, with Imagine and Sequoyah. 

Sadler’s Wells has now three times sired the first three home in a major European classic. In 1999 in the Irish Derby and last year in the Epsom Oaks, the great sire preceded his Irish 1000 Guineas triumph. 

One of the most remarkable aspects of Sadler’s Wells is his versatility. His colts and fillies are equally good, he is no mean sire of a two year old and the majority train on and improve.  

Represented by the likes of Montjeu, King of Kings, Opera House, Salsabil and Northern Spur, Sadler’s Wells is beginning to cement himself to be a successful sire of sires, with the likes of In The Wings, El Prado, Barathea and Carnegie enjoying highly successful seasons. Sadler’s Wells has also enjoyed great success as a broodmare sire with the likes of Sakhee, El Condor Pasa and Breeders Cup Mile hero, Sillic. 

The “nick” of Sadler’s Wells and Darshaan is well documented and the great sire goes particularly well with mares carrying Never Bend via Mill Reef and Riverman. He also excels with Habitat mares, ie Dance Design, King of Kings and the classic winning brother and sister of Barathea and Gossamer. 

Sadler’s Wells enjoyed arguably his finest season last year when his offspring won three of the five English classics and he had five Group 1 winning two year olds. Sadler’s Wells is also the all time leading sire of Group 1 winners.

His fee remains private at Coolmore, where he stands alongside his sons Galileo, Montjeu, Entrepreneur and King of Kings.