18 January 2002

By Sarah Whitelaw

The 17 year old Unfuwain, who had just started receiving the credit due for an extremely successful stud career, died at the end of last week. Nashwan and Nayef’s big brother died suddenly after a neurological condition. The son of Northern Dancer and Height Of Fashion had been standing at Shadwell Stud since retiring from racing 12 years ago. He had stood alongside the likes of Nashwan, Green Desert and the promising son of Alleged, Muhtarram.

Unfuwain, like his brilliant elder half brother, Nashwan, was trained by Major Dick Hern. Despite never winning a group 1 race, the bay was as good as any of his generation. After winning the Chester Vase he was well supported for the 1988 Epsom Derby. He was disappointing in the race won by Kahyasi finishing seventh.

Possibly his best performance came when winning the Princess of Wales Stakes by 15 lengths followed a fine second in the King George to Horse of The Year, Mtoto. Unfwain retired with the solid record of 6 wins from 10 starts.

Starting his stud career at 15,000 pounds Unfuwain made a decent start to his career when his daughter Bolas won the 1994 Irish Oaks. He had two further winners of that race when Petrushka and Lailani won back to back runnings in 2000 and 2001. His daughter Lahan won the 2000 English 1000 Guineas with granddaughter Princess Ellen (out of a Unfuwain mare) second and Petrushka back in third. Other high class daughters of Unfuwain include Park Hill winner Ranin and the high class Zahrat Dubai, winner of the Nassau Stakes.

Unfuwain principally made his name as a sire of fillies but the like of Shamikh, Gulland and Amiwain were high class colts. His best colt was, however, Alhaarth. The champion two year old colt of 1995, Alhaarth was unbeaten in 5 starts at two including winning the Dewhurst from group 1 winners Danehill Dancer and Tagula. He won further group races at three and four before retiring to Derrinstown Stud where he looks to be one of the more promising sires around with Cornwallis winner Dominica and the exciting Bandari from his first crop.

Unfuwain was of Britain’s best and most underrated sires and his legacy looks set to continue.