New Zealand’s Windsor Park Stud on Sunday announced the loss of  Rip Van Winkle following a short illness.By the world’s best sire Galileo, Rip Van Winkle had just completed his most successful season with a stellar year on the racetrack that included Group One winning stars Te Akau Shark and NZB Filly of The Year Jennifer Eccles.“It’s a devasting blow for us and the industry losing a successful sire, especially one who has just enjoyed a great season on the racetrack,” Windsor Park Stud’s Rodney Schick said.

An international sire of 31 individual stakes winners, Rip Van Winkle had sired Group One winners over 1200m, 1400m, 1600m and 2400m and confirmed his versatility by siring Group One winners in all age categories.As a racehorse, Rip Van Winkle was twice named world champion miler with an elite Timeform rating of 134 – the same figure earned by his record-breaking illustrious sire.

From the same family as 2020 2000 Guineas winner Kameko, Rip Van Winkle won 5 of 12 starts with his wins including triumphs in all of the G1 Sussex Stakes, G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and G1 Juddmonte International.