Adlerflug, sire of last year’s German Derby winner and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe runner-up In Swoop and a top-class performer on the track himself, has died at the age of 17 according to reports in the German media.

Owned and bred by Gestut Schlenderhan, the son of In The Wings was a seven-length scorer of the German Derby at three and followed up with a neck second in the Grosser Preis von Baden.

German racing outlet GaloppOnline reported a statement from connections explaining that he had died suddenly and unexpectedly after covering a mare on Monday afternoon.

The sire of 12 Group winners and five at the highest level overall, In Swoop had flown the flag for Adlerflug when winning the German Derby and then finishing second to Sottsass in the Arc last year. The Francis-Henri Graffard-trained colt had also finished to Mogul in the Grand Prix de Paris.