South African Star Wolf Power Dead

Central Kentucky stallion Wolf Power, a Horse of the Year in his native South Africa, died Nov. 15 in his stall at Graham J. Beck's Gainesway Farm near Lexington from a ruptured aorta. The 24-year-old Round Table grandson impregnated 30 of 34 mares this year.

Wolf Power put up some solid figures as a stallion. He is represented by 81% starters from foals of racing age and 62% winners, plus 38 stakes winners and the earners of $23 million. Starting in 1990, he topped the $1-million mark in year-end progeny earnings every year, including 2002. His offspring include grade I winner Freedom Cry, Mexican champion Alemania, and Northern Wolf, who won the inaugural Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash in track-record time at Pimlico in 1990.

Bred by Birch Brothers, Wolf Power (Flirting Around -- Pandora, by Casabianca) raced for the Birch Brothers Syndicate, winning 18 of 31 races and earning a South African record $758,071. He set four course records and was the first South African runner to race a mile under 1:34.

Wolf Power was imported to stand at stud in the U.S, in 1984 and entered stud at The Alchemy near Versailles, Ky., the following year. He was moved to Gainesway for the 1990 season. Wolf Power was buried at the farm.