The death has been announced of Shamardal who has been euthanised at Kildangan Stud as a result of health issues.
Initially diagnosed as a wobbler, Shamardal began his career with Mark Johnston for whom he won all three of his starts in 2004, notably the Gr.1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.
Transferred to Saeed bin Suroor the following season, Shamardal failed for the only time in his career when unplaced on dirt at Nad al Sheba. Returning to Europe the son of Giant’s Causeway won the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, Prix du Jockey-Club and St James’s Palace Stakes in the space of a month before a career-ending injury led to retirement prior to his intended start the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.
Retired to Kildangan Stud the same year as Dubawi, Shamardal stood his first season in Australia at an advertised fee of $55,000 and his first crop of 83 live foals headed by Gr.1 VRC Oaks and Vinery Stud Stakes winner Faint Perfume and Gr.1 Epsom Handicap winner Captain Sonador.
From his first crop in Europe he sired Solario Stakes winner Shakespearean and Gr.1 performer Zazou and was crowned leading first-season sire.
Since then, Shamardal has consistently sired hugely talented racehorses – 25 of whom have been victorious at Gr.1 level including Lope de Vega, who emulated his sire in winning the Poule d’Essai des Poulains and Prix du Jockey-Club and now a leading European sire.
Shamardal’s highest-rated performer to date is the unbeaten Pinatubo, while his now-retired sprinter Blue Point, who claimed four Gr.1s in his own right, among them the King’s Stand and Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2019, has been slated to shuttle between Ireland and Australia.
As a broodmare sire he is already represented by classic winners Awtaad and Latrobe.
“Shamardal embodied mental and physical toughness – as a racehorse and as a stallion. As the racing world has seen over the past 15 years, he passed those qualities on to his progeny,” Joe Osborne, Managing Director of Godolphin Ireland said in a statement,
“He contended with a range of health issues over recent years and did so with fortitude and resilience. It’s a tough day for us saying goodbye to him. This is an appropriate time to thank our team of stallion personnel and support professionals who cared for him so well and so kindly throughout his time here at Kildangan Stud”.