Burden of Proof, a multiple group winner in Europe and a leading sire in India, died Aug. 2 at the age of 24 at Dr. Vijay Mallya's Kunigal Stud where he stood at stud, the farm announced via Twitter.
The Irish-bred son of Fairy King passed away peacefully but had appeared to be good health and in relatively good condition for his age, the farm said. He is currently the leading sire in India, where he was also the leading first-season sire. He perennially ranks among the nation's the top three sires.
Burden of Proof broke new ground in India, where he stood his first season in 2000 and got a record five classic winners in his first crop. He sired 25 individual classic winners overall, including 2016 Indian Derby winner Desert God.
From 13 crops of 443 named foals, he produced 85 black-type performers. He also sired two champions in India, according to Jockey Club statistics—Aboline, champion miler of 2010, and Arabian Prince, champion stayer of 2011. Though 24, Burden of Proof was still quite fertile and got 20 mares in foal in 2016.
Burden of Proof posted a 12-5-3 record from 32 career starts in six seasons, including 10 stakes, topped by the 1998 Budweiser World Cup International (Ire-II) at the Curragh and three other group events before retiring in 1999. An Irish highweight at ages 5 and 6, he first raced for Dr. M.V. O'Brien and trainer Charles O'Brien and was later acquired to race for Michael Tabor under trainer Aidan O'Brien.
Bred by Lyonstown Stud from the Be My Guest mare Belle Passe, Burden of Proof is a three-quarters brother to 2003 Gallorette Stakes (gr. III) winner Carib Lady (Sadler's Wells). This is the same family as grade I winner and leading sire Harlan's Holiday.
Burden of Proof is classified as a Hall of Fame stallion by the Stud Book Authority of India.
