Fort Wood (Sadler’s Wells), a two-time leading sire in South Africa for
Mauritzfontein Stud, passed away from heart failure early Saturday morning
according to Sporting Post. He was 25.
Trained by Andre Fabre for Sheikh Mohammed, the bay — who raced exclusively
as a three-year-old — won half of his six starts including the Grand Prix de
Paris (Fr-G1) and Prix Noailles (Fr-G2). Retired with earnings of $335,255
after injuring himself during a work, Fort Wood was acquired by Mr. and Mrs.
Oppenheimer’s Mauritzfontein Stud through the efforts of Alistair Brown of
Equarius Bloodstock and stood his first season in 1994.
His first crop contained three Group 1 winners with the best of these being
Horse Chestnut, a Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year. Horse Chestnut was
joined by Dog Wood and Fort Defiance. Fort Wood sired two more Horses of the
Year during his career with Celtic Grove and Dynasty.
The American-bred also won two South African sire titles in 1998 and 1999 and
led the broodmare sires lists in 2012 and 2013. His total stakes winners stands
at 73 with 15 Group 1 winners to date according to Brisnet.
Out of Matron S. (G1) heroine and Broodmare of the Year Fall Aspen
(Pretense), Fort Wood was a half-brother to champion juvenile male and classic
winner Timber Country (Woodman), Irish three-year-old highweight Bianconi
(Danzig), Grade 1 winners Northern Aspen (Northern Dancer) and Hamas (Danzig),
Group 2 heroine Colorado Dancer (Shareef Dancer) — dam of champion Dubai
Millennium (Seeking the Gold) — Group scorers Elle Seule (Exclusive Native) and
Mazzacano (Alleged) and stakes-winning Kentucky Derby (G1) third Prince of
Thieves (Hansel).