International Sire Shamardal Dies at 18

Darley's champion and highly rated international sire Shamardal was euthanized due to health issues at Kildangan Stud, where he stood for more than 10 years, the farm announced April 16.

Shamardal, an 18-year-old son of Giant's Causeway out of the Machiavellian mare Helsinki, was an immediate success at the racetrack, winning his debut by eight lengths. In his second start, he won the seven-furlong Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes (G2) by 2 1/2 lengths from future Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Wilko.

Another step up in class followed, this time against a high-class field in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes (G1), during which he never saw another rival and again won by 2 1/2 lengths. Sharmardal was duly named champion 2-year-old and was transferred to Godolphin and the care of Saeed bin Suroor at the end of the season.

After suffering what was to be his only defeat at Nad Al Sheba, Shamardal returned to Europe and his winning ways in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, G1). A few weeks later, he doubled up his tally of French classics in the Prix du Jockey Club (G1), holding off a determined challenge from Hurricane Run, the horse who went on to win the 2005 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barriere (G1).

Shamardal concluded his racing career at York (where Ascot's Royal meeting was staged in 2005), seeing off another quality field in the St. James's Palace Stakes (G1) where he eased clear from three furlongs out to win by a comfortable three-length margin.

Injury derailed Shamardal's racing career, and he exited with a record of six wins out of seven starts and earnings of $1,931,770.

He stood his first season in Australia, where his first crop was headed by multiple group 1 winner Faint Perfume. He was also quick to make an impression at stud in Europe and was crowned leading first-season sire during his first Northern Hemisphere season, siring Variety Club Children's Charity Solario Stakes (G3) winner Shakespearean and group 1 performer Zazou.

Since then, Shamardal has steadily sired talented racehorses, getting 146 black-type winners who include 75 graded/group winners with 25 finding victory at the grade/group 1 level. Their victories include the Darley Dewhurst Stakes (G1), Coral Eclipse (G1), French Guineas (both Two Thousand and One Thousand), French Derby, Connollys Red Mills Cheveley Park Stakes (G1) , E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1T), Longines Hong Kong Mile (G1), and Racing Post Trophy (G1).

He sired six champions: 2015 Hong Kong Horse of the Year and champion miler Able Friend, 2018 Hong Kong champion stayer Pakistan Star, 2010 Australian champion 3-year-old filly Faint Perfume, 2016 Saudi Arabian champion older mare Water Queen, 2017 Saudi Arabian champion older mare Amazing Speed, Czech Republic Horse of the Year Subway Dancer.

Shamardal's highest-rated performer is Pinatubo, an Irish-bred colt who won all six of his starts, including the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (G1) and the Dewhurst. His Timeform rating of 134 was the highest allotted to a 2-year-old in 25 years.

His second-highest-rated performer is Blue Point, who was undefeated in 2019. He is the only horse to win three group 1 sprints at Royal Ascot and the third horse in almost 100 years to complete the King's Stand Stakes (G1)/Diamond Jubilee Stakes (G1) double in the same week.

Last year, Shamardal sired five grade/group 1 winners, including a record-breaking three juveniles to prevail at the highest level: Pinatubo, Earthlight, and Victor Ludorum.

He is also establishing himself as a broodmare sire of the highest class, through classic winners Awtaad and Latrobe, last season's top sprinter Hello Youmzain, plus group 1-winning juvenile filly Pretty Pollyanna.

"We were all very sad to hear of the passing of Shamardal," bin Suroor said. "He was a champion 2-year-old and became one of Godolphin's best horses, winning two classics in France as well as the St. James's Palace Stakes. He went on to establish himself as a top sire, producing exceptional horses throughout the world, and everyone is going to miss him. It is a sad day, but I am sure that his progeny will continue his legacy both on the racecourse and in the breeding sheds."

Joe Osborne, the managing director of Godolphin Ireland, said 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," Osborne said. "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."

Sam Bullard, the director of stallions, said: "Shamardal has been the mainstay of our Irish stallion roster for many years and will be sorely missed by the team at Kildangan.

"His record as a sire speaks for itself, and we have enjoyed many great days on the racecourse courtesy of his sons and daughters. Led by the imperious Pinatubo, Shamardal's juvenile crop of last year was truly outstanding, siring three unbeaten group 1-winning juvenile colts, a feat never achieved before since the start of the Pattern."