Singspiel, who was the champion grass horse in 1996 and a successful stallion, was euthanized July 2. The 18-year-old son of In The Wings had developed laminitis following a long illness.
A homebred campaigned by Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed, Singspiel stood at the sheikh’s Dalham Hall Stud in England.
"Singspiel has been a huge part of Sheikh Mohammed and Darley's breeding and racing operation for many years,” said Sheikh Mohammed’s bloodstock adviser, John Ferguson. “He was bred by Sheikh Mohammed, and, as a racehorse, he covered every continent. The highlight was his win in the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I). He then went on to great things at stud where he sired Moon Ballad from his first crop to also win the Dubai World Cup.
"He was an outstandingly tough racehorse who was able to pass it on to many of his progeny who performed around the world. He has been admired and supported industry-wide in Australia, Europe, Japan, and the USA where he has produced racehorses of the highest caliber. Sheikh Mohammed would like to thank all of those at Dalham Hall and the veterinarians in Newmarket for doing everything they could for him. He will be sadly missed."
Grade I or group I races won by Singspiel included the Juddmonte International and Vodafone Coronation Cup Stakes in England, Japan Cup, and Canadian International Stakes. He finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (gr. IT). Trained by Michael Stoute, Singspiel earned $5,952,825 and was a champion in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Produced from Canadian Horse of the Year and North American champion Glorious Song, Singspiel sired more than 70 added-money winners. In addition to Moon Ballad, who was a UAE Horse of the Year, the stallion’s offspring included Lahudood, 2007’s champion female on grass; English champions Dar Re Mi and Papineau; German and Italian champion Lateral; and UAE champion Eastern Anthem.
