Top International Sire Orpen Dies at 25

Important international sire Orpen died late Jan. 26 after suffering from colic and not recovering from emergency surgery, according to Turf Diario. He was 25.

The son of Lure out of the Devil's Bag daughter Bonita Francita was bred in Kentucky by Katom and sold for $525,000 at the 1996 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale to BBA Ireland from Ashford Stud's consignment. Earlier that year, Orpen's half brother Jules (by Forty Niner) had won in his debut and was runner-up in the Cowdin Stakes (G2) in his second start. Jules later won the Nashua Stakes (G3).

Susan Magnier and trainer Aidan O'Brien eventually campaigned Orpen, who won his debut and became a group 1 winner in his next start in the Prix Morny at Deauville. Orpen struggled to maintain his form at 3 and was retired after six starts. He earned $169,008.

Orpen's pedigree made him a viable stallion prospect with multiple stakes performers produced by Bonita Francita and her daughters, including group 1 stakes winner Bluemamba and stakes winners Jules, Etterby Park, Free World, and Great Warrior. Orpen's second dam, Raise the Standard, was a half sister to leading sire Northern Dancer.

Orpen began his stud career in Ireland and shuttled for four years to Australia before being tried in South America, where Jules had thrived at Haras Santa Maria de Araras and became leading sire in Brazil for the 2002-03 racing year. Jules died in 2003.

Jose DeCamargo, owner of Santa Escolastica based in Lexington, leased Orpen for three years beginning in 2004 and stood him initially at Haras Arroya de Luna. The stallion was quickly embraced by Argentine breeders.

"Because he was such a good-looking horse, the Argentina breeders liked him. They trusted him with their best mares, and we sold 130 seasons his first year," DeCamargo recalled.

Soon DeCamargo put together a deal to buy Orpen from Coolmore with La Providencia. The stallion was syndicated and moved to Haras Carampangue. He continued to shuttle between Argentina and France, breeding in both hemispheres for 16 years.

From 18 crops of racing age worldwide, Orpen sired 112 black-type winners that included 67 graded/group winners and 12 champions. His elite runners earned champion titles in eight countries—Argentina, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, and Turkey. He also sired four highweighted group winners in Italy and one in France.

"The Orpen runners really caught the eye," DeCamargo said. "He sired nice horses all over the world."

Orpen sired 21 grade/group 1 winners. In Argentina alone, his runners captured 24 group 1 stakes and were among the country's champions every year during 2011-14. His sire-son Lingote de Oro was Argentina's 2011 Horse of the Year and also champion older horse and champion stayer.

Pinball Wizard is one of his most recent elite runners, with wins in the Copa de Oro-Alfredo Lalor (G1) at San Isidro and the General San Martin (G1) at Hipodromo Argentino de Palermo last fall.

Turf Diario reported that Orpen remained an active and fertile sire even at his advanced age, covering 100 mares last year, of which 80 are in foal.