Champion sire Flying Spur (Aus) (Danehill-Rolls, by Mr. Prospector) has died aged 25 at Arrowfield Stud.
The 1995 Gr1 Golden Slipper winner had been pensioned since 2012.
Flying Spur
Bred by Arrowfield and raced by them in partnership and trained by Lee Freedman, Flying Spur finished second in the Gr1 Blue Diamond S. and third in the G1 VRC Sires’ Produce S. before winning the Golden Slipper over Octagonal (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}). He would go on to add the Gr1 Australian Guineas in the autumn of his 3-year-old campaign, and he closed out his career with a win over older horses in the G1 All Aged S. Flying Spur played a pivotal role in his sire, Danehill, winning his first of nine Australian champion sire titles that year. Arrowfield’s John Messara had pioneered the shuttling of Danehill to Australia in 1989.
Messara said, “I have memories of many special moments with Spur, both as a racehorse and a stallion. He was a great contributor to Arrowfield in the early years and his wonderful influence will continue to be felt, especially through his daughters.”
Flying Spur got off to a flying start at stud, earning the champion first season sires’ title in 1999/2000, and in 2007 he was champion sire and champion 2-year-old sire. He was also New Zealand’s champion 2-year-old sire in 2001.
Flying Spur has left 99 stakes winners, 13 of those Gr1 winners including Randwick Guineas, Champagne S. and George Main S. scorer Mentality (Aus) and Forensics (Aus), who emulated her sire with a win in the Golden Slipper. His most recent Gr1 winner was last year’s Gr1 Caulfield Cup upsetter Boom Time (Aus), and his sons at stud include Gr 1 winners Casino Prince (Aus) and Magnus (Aus). The former has left the four-time Group 1 winner and young sire All Too Hard (Aus).
Flying Spur has also made a mark as a broodmare sire, his daughters having left thus far 76 stakes winners and seven Gr1 winners including the Gr1 Golden Slipper winner and leading sire Sebring (Aus), the Classic-winning four-time Group 1 winner Preferment (NZ) and the Gr1 Coolmore Stud S. winner Headway (Aus).
-www.thoroughbreddailynews.com
