Act One, who was owned and bred by Gerald Leigh, raced in France
PICTURE:
EDWARD WHITAKER
Wood Farm stallion Act One dead aged 11
By George Kimberley 2:39PM 16 JUL 2010
ACT ONE, the dual Group 1-winning son of In The Wings who stood at Wood Farm Stud in Shropshire, died on Thursday aged 11.
The stallion had just completed his first year at Bill Bromley's stud where he commanded a £2,000 fee, having stood for seven years under the Shadwell banner at Nunnery Stud, Thetford.
A top-class performer in France, Act One won all three starts as a juvenile over a mile, notably the Group 1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud.
At three he took the Prix Greffulhe, a Group 2 race over 1m2f at Longchamp followed by the Group 1 Prix Lupin over the same course and distance. His final start was when second to Sulamani as odds-on favourite in the Prix du Jockey Club, where injury ended his career.
His best progeny include the champion South African racemare
Dancer's Daughter, five times a winner at Group 1 level, and
Silver Pond, unbeaten in three starts in France including the Group 2 Prix Hocquart at Longchamp.
James Wigan of London Bloodstock Services Ltd, who managed the stallion, said: "He was a lovely horse to have anything to do with. He gave the impression of a horse that knew he was a bit above the ordinary.
"He was covering a mixture of Flat and jumps mares. Although he was a good two-year-old himself, they mostly needed a bit of time which is why he wasn't as appealing to the commercial Flat breeder as he might have been.
"We syndicated him when he was retired as a three-year-old. Gerald Leigh [his owner/breeder] was very fond of the horse and wanted to make sure he stood in England and got the best opportunities he could.
"He died very quickly and more or less lost consciousness on his feet and didn't suffer very much. It is very sad for everyone at Bill Bromley's."
Bromley said: "He covered about 50 mares and had finished for the year. Hehas 36 scanned in foal and several more still to scan. The post mortem was Thursday night and there was a massive haemorrhage. There was no injury and no warning, it was just damned unfortunate."
Act One's demise leaves Wood Farmwith two stallions,
Erhaab and
Lucarno, having also lost the veteran Sir Harry Lewis last year.