Ghazi, a grade I winner and the sire of 19 stakes winners, was euthanized Nov. 3 because of cancer. The 22-year-old son of Polish Navy had stood the last several years at Eugene and Rita Boehlke’s farm near Waverly, Minn.
Ghazi showed a liking for distance racing for owner Hassan Shoaib and trainer Del W. Carroll II. He won the 1 1/4-mile Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) at Arlington over subsequent grass champion Paradise Creek. In the 1 1/2-mile Rothmans Ltd. International Stakes (gr. IT) at Woodbine, Ghazi finished third but was moved up to second because of a disqualification. Retired in his 5-year-old season, Ghazi exited with six wins from 14 starts and earnings of $536,620.
Ghazi entered stud at Brereton C. Jones’ Airdrie Stud near Midway, Ky., and stood at several other farms before his stint at the Boehlkes’ farm. He is represented by 32 stakes horses including Irish champion Port Bayou and Beckon the King, who won a graded stakes at Gulfstream Park and set a course record in a stakes at Meadowlands. Ghazi’s progeny earnings are upwards of $15 million.
Bred in Kentucky by Deer Lawn Farm from the Damascus mare Port Damascus, Ghazi was a half brother to grade II winner Pompeii Court.