Earth-shattering. Within 48 hours the retirements were announced of both Sadler’s Wells and Storm Cat, surely the most influential sires either side of "the pond" in the past decade, maybe two.
Coolmore announced on Monday that Sadler’s Wells was suffering fertility problems at the ripe old (horsey) age of 27 and was to be retired having taken over the mantle of Europe’s leading sire from his father, Northern Dancer. He has sired 106 Group 1 and 33 major Classic winners in Europe. I was lucky enough to meet the "old master" last July.
In 2004 he was crowned Champion Sire for a record 14th time. As Coolmore maestro John Magnier exclaimed: "He is the best we’ve ever seen. At this stage the mares he has are not so good and his fertility is dropping, so he doesn’t have the same chances as some of the younger horses, but he’s still the best for me."
And then, in true "London Bus" syndrome, Storm Cat, two years the junior of Sadler’s Wells but remarkably influential in his native USA as well as Europe, was retired for the very same reason. Luckily, their genes will survive for a very long time.
Abu Dhabi boys ready for Europe>
