French classic winner and sire Aussie Rules, a grade I winner at Keeneland in 2006, was euthanized in February at Lanwades Stud near Newmarket following a very short illness due to a tumor. The son of Danehill was 13.
Aussie Rules is the sire of 19 black-type winners from six crops racing age 3 and older, including Irish group I winner Fiesolana, German 2-year-old filly standout Djumama, and 2015 Hungarian Horse of the Year Quelindo. His offspring have amassed earnings of more than $16.7 million through March 14, according to Jockey Club statistics.
"We are greatly saddened at the tragic loss of Aussie Rules," said Kirsten Rausing, owner Lanwades Stud. "He was a lovely, cooperative horse to work with, his enthusiasm and zest for life makes his loss all the harder to bear for all of us who knew him. His name will live on through his many successful racing progeny."
Aussie Rules, who is out of the multiple group winner Last Second, by Alzao, won four of 12 starts, including the 2006 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (Fr-I, French Two Thousand Guineas) at Longchamp and Shadwell Turf Mile (gr. IT) at Keeneland.
Trained by Aidan O'Brien for Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and his breeder, Saudia Arabian prince Faisal bin Salman, Aussie Rules retired to stud first at Castlehyde Stud in Ireland in 2007, before transferring to stand at Lanwades in 2012.
