Green Desert, sire of more than 90 stakes winners and gaining a reputation as a top sire of sires, has been pensioned at age 28.
According to the Racing Post, the son of Danzig will remain at Nunnery Stud near Norfolk, England, where he has stood at stud since 1990, most recently under the management of Darley Stallions.
The decision was made to retire the stallion from breeding after he failed to get any of a limited book of mares in foal during the 2011 breeding season, according to the Post.
Bred in Kentucky by Red Bull Stable and Eaton Farm, Green Desert was purchased by Darley Stud Management for $650,000 from the Eaton-Williams consignment to the 1984 Keeneland September yearling sale. Racing for Sheikh Maktoum, he won 5 of 14 starts, including the 1986 Norcros July Cup (Eng-I). He is out of the Sir Ivor mare Foreign Courier.
According to The Jockey Club Information Systems, Green Desert has sired 97 stakes winners to date and his progeny have earned more than $43 million.
Included in his first crop was Sheikh Albadou, the 1991 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I) winner and European champion sprinter.
Though now pensioned, Green Desert continues to have a strong presence within British breeding through his sons, including Oasis Dream, Cape Cross, and Invincible Spirit, all of whom are among the leading sires in Europe.
He is also a successful broodmare sire, with daughters of Green Desert represented by more than 75 stakes winners to date.