The Informant...
Prolific Group One sire Faltaat passes away
Sun, 31 Mar 2013
Paul Vettise
One of New Zealand’s longest-serving stallions has died with the passing of proific Group One producer Faltaat.
“He was 23-years-old so we all understand these things do happen, but it’s very sad to see him go,” Westbury Stud general manager Russell Warwick said. “The boys went out to get him in and he was dead in his paddock.
“I had some people here on Friday and took them out to see him and he was happy, so it couldn’t have happened more quickly or unexpectedly. If it has to happen then it’s best to go out that way and he didn’t suffer.”
The son of Mr Prospector was the winner of 13 of his 20 starts, with all his racetrack successes in the United Arab Emirates.
“He retired as a six-year-old and came to us in 1996,” Warwick said. “He was the champion older sprinter of the UAE before Dubai came onto the world stage. He had a private reputation and was a very talented horse.
“He shuttled to the United States, but didn’t cope with it so we were fortunate enough to be able to buy them out and from 2000 onwards he’s been like a piece of the furniture here. We had a few issues with laminitis in the last three or four years, but the last 12 months he was really good.”
Faltaat made a flying start to his stud career with outstanding results from his first two New Zealand crops.
“He had 17 foals from his first season and they included Tit For Taat, who won five Group One races and was Horse of the Year and Hey Pronto was a Group Two winner and Group One placed,” Warwick said.
“He had 24 foals from his second crop and sired the multiple Group One winner Sedecrem; Rosina Lad who was a Group Two winner and Group One placed and Gwen’s Rules who was a Listed winner and was also Group One placed.”
Faltaat went on to sire Group One winners Taatletail, Jurys Out, Miss Raggedy Ann and Sight Winner, then last year he became a history-maker.
“He produced Little Bridge, who became the first New Zealand-bred Group One winner at Royal Ascot,” Warwick said.
“Last year Faltaat covered 30-odd mares and 19 are due to foal, so the last chapter might not have been written yet – there might be another Group One winner to come.”
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