Japanese Star El Condor Pasa Dead

Japanese stallion El Condor Pasa died of complications from colic following surgery, according to Regent Co. The Kentucky-bred son of Kingmambo showed signs of colic the night of July 13 and underwent surgery the following morning to correct the displaced intestines. The surgery itself was successful, but his condition was not, and he died July 16 at 9:10 p.m.

Bred and raced by Takashi Watanabe, El Condor Pasa was a champion in France and a three-time champion in Japan. He won the 1998 Japan Cup (Jpn-I) and two other graded stakes that year and was voted champion 3-year-old colt.

Watanabe tested the French racing scene with El Condor Pasa the following year, and the Mr. Prospector grandson came away with flying colors. He won the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Fr-I) and Prix Foy (Fr-II) and was second in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barriere (Fr-I) and Prix d'Ispahan (Fr-I).

El Condor Pasa not only was France's top-weighted older horse, at 11 to 14 furlongs, but he also was Japan's Horse of the Year and champion older male and the top Kentucky-bred racing abroad as determined by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders.

Seven-year-old El Condor Pasa, who was produced from the Sadler's Wells mare Saddlers Gal, stood at the Yoshida family's Shadai Stallion Station on the island of Hokkaido. His first foals are now yearlings.