Leroidesanimaux Dies at 16

Leroidesanimaux, multiple grade I winner and turf champion, died recently due to injuries from a paddock accident at England's Lanwades Stud, where he'd been standing since 2014, confirmed two farm employees May 27.

"We are all absolutely very sad," said Sue Vary, who handles stallion nominations. "He was a brilliant horse."

Bred in Brazil by Haras Bage Do Sul, the son of Candy Stripes—Dissemble, by Ahonoora, was raced by Goncalo Torrealba's Stud T.N.T. in Brazil and in the United States. The strapping chestnut was sent to the barn of the late Bobby Frankel in 2004 when he won the Citation Handicap (gr. IT) and the Inglewood and Morvich Handicaps (both gr. IIIT). 

Leroidesanimaux would add two more grade Is in 2005 with victories in the Atto Mile Stakes at Woodbine and the Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap at Santa Anita Park. He also finished second in the NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) by three-quarters of a length to Artie Schiller   and was honored with an Eclipse Award as champion grass horse.

As a stallion, he produced 19 black-type winners to date including U.S. champion Animal Kingdom  , who won the 2011 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and would go on to win the 2013 Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline (UAE-I). Leroidesanimaux's first European crop are yearlings of 2016.

The Haisfield family's Stonewall Farm Stallions bought an interest in the horse prior to his start in the Breeders' Cup Mile. He retired the following year to Stonewall Farm in Central Kentucky with an entering year fee of $30,000. 

Team Valor International CEO Barry Irwin had recommended Leroidesanimaux as a stallion prospect to Haisfield.

"You don't see many horses with that much speed who could carry it over a distance of ground," said Irwin, who bred and raced Animal Kingdom through Team Valor. "He reminded me of Native Diver; he loved to run."

After standing several years in Kentucky, the stallion was moved to Stonewall Farm Ocala, which was later named HallMarc Stallions at Stonewall Farm. Selling the Florida market on a turf sire proved challenging, which led to his relocation to Lanwades Stud.

"His pedigree makes him a suitable mate for mares by Galileo, Danehill and his sons, Mr. Propsector-line mares, and others," said Lanwades owner and general manager Kirsten Rausing when the stallion's move had been announced in September 2013. "Leroi is the outcross stallion European breeders have been waiting for—and he is a proven stallion, too. We expect strong interest from mare owners throughout Europe."