Generous, a multiple champion in Europe and a two-time classic winner, died Jan. 15. Bred in Ireland by Barronstown Stud, Generous (Caerleon—Doff the Derby, by Master Derby) was 25.
Generous entered hallowed ground when he won three of the world's greatest races as a 3-year-old in 1991. He took the first step when he captured the Ever Ready Epsom Derby (Eng-I) by five lengths and then won the Budweiser Irish Derby (Ire-I) over Suave Dancer, the Prix du Jockey Club Lancia (Fr-I, French Derby) winner. Generous completed the triple when defeating older runners in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (Eng-I) by a stakes record seven lengths. Generous joined his grandsire, Nijinsky II as well as Grundy, The Minstrel, Shergar, and Troy in completing the three-race sweep.
Generous next tried to go one up on Nijinsky II and the rest by adding the demanding Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) to his list of accomplishments. But he came up short, finishing eighth behind Suave Dancer.
Winner of the Three Chimneys Dewhurst Stakes (Eng-I) at 2, Generous was retired after the Arc with a record of 6-1-1 from 11 starts and earnings of $1,848,544 for owner Fahd Salman and trainer Paul Cole. Generous exited with five championships at 3. He was a two-time champion in Ireland, including Horse of the Year, and a champion in Europe, England, and France.
Generous was kept busy during his stallion career. He entered stud at Banstead Manor Stud in Northern Ireland and later stood in Japan and New Zealand before finishing out his career at Alfred Buller's Scarvagh House Stud in Northern Ireland.
He sired 56 stakes winners including two-time German champion Catella and Irish champion Lisieux Rose, who shipped to the United States to win the Orchid Handicap (gr. IIT) at Gulfstream Park. Generous was represented by other U.S. graded stakes winners Blueprint and Worldly Ways.
Generous' stakes winners as a broodmare sire include Nahrain, an English champion and French group I winner who ventured from Europe to win the 2011 Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes (gr. IT) and run second in that year's Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT).
