3 minute read

Gone West's outstanding sire son Mr. Greeley has died at Gainesway Farm in Kentucky after suffering from laminitis.

The sire of eight Group/Grade I winners worldwide including Irish champion Finsceal Beo) was 18 years old.

"All of us at Gainesway are saddened at the lost of a great stallion," Gainesway's Antony Beck said when announcing the sad news.

"He was not only a great stallion, but a great horse."

Mr. Greeley was trained by Nick Zito and was a leading sprinter/miler of his generation with three G3 wins in 1995 before finishing runner-up in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint.

He retired to stud with five wins from 16 starts and earnings of $474,452.

Closely related to Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense and the outstanding sire Danehill Dancer, Mr. Greeley sired at least one G1 winner in each of his first four crops to race including GI Cigar Mile winner El Corredor and brilliant Australian mare Miss Kournikova, winner of the G1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield.

Sussex Stakes winner Reel Buddy was another of his early G1 winners.

Mr. Greeley stood at Spendthrift Farm before being purchased by Gainesway Farm for the 2006 breeding season and became a leading international stallion when his daughter Finsceal Beo became champion filly in Europe.

Her victories included the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac in France and the G2 Rockfel Stakes in England at two and when on at three to win the G1 English and Irish 1000 Guineas double and a head second in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches.

She waqs also multiple G1-placed at four and retired with earnings in excess of $1.5 million.

Mr. Greeley has been represented by 53 black-type winners and 107 black-type performers with his s progeny earning in excess of $US50 million.

This year has sired seven black-type winners, including notable Group winners Laughing Lashes and Aruna.