Champion Kalanisi (Ire) (Doyoun {Ire}–Kalamba {Ire}, by Green Dancer) passed away earlier this week at the Flood family's Boardsmill Stud, the stud announced on Friday. He was 27.
Bred by His Highness the Aga Khan's Studs in Ireland and trained by first Luca Cumani and then Sir Michael Stoute, he was crowned the 2000 American Champion Grass Horse after a season which saw him take the G2 Queen Anne S., run second in the G1 Eclipse S. and G1 International S. both to Giant's Causeway (Storm Cat), before returning to the winner's circle in the G1 Champion S. and GI Breeders' Cup Turf. Placed twice more at the highest level in 2001, he retired after 11 starts and was never unplaced with $2,148,836 in career earnings.
William and John Flood of Boardsmill said on Thursday, “We are sad to announce the passing of our stalwart sire Kalanisi, who died suddenly in his paddock this week. He had been enjoying his well-earned retirement in his paddock here for the past few years. Kalanisi was a real favourite with everyone in the yard and with visitors too. He was a huge attraction with both racing fans and breeders during the ITM Stallion Trail every year. He has a final crop of 25 three year olds and he has 3 representatives of this crop on offer at both the Goffs Arkle Sale and also at the Tattersalls Derby Sale.”
First a resident of the Aga Khan's Giltown Stud in Ireland before moving to Boardsmill in 2008 after being purchased by the Flood family, Kalanisi sired five stakes winners on the Flat, but his runners excelled under National Hunt rules. Some of his best are Kalashnikov (Ire), Fayonagh (Ire) and Barters Hill (Ire). His dozen stakes winners as a Flat broodmare sire include Roxoterra (Brz) (Gol Tricolor {Brz}), a Group 1 winner in Brazil, and G1 Prix Jean Romanet heroine Aristia (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). Pensioned in 2020, his youngest foals are 4-year-olds.
His dam's first foal, the homebred is a half-brother to Group 2 winner and dual Group 1-placed Kalaman (Ire) (Desert Prince {Ire}) and is from the extended family of Southern Hemisphere Group 1 winners Rockdale (NZ) (Danroad {Aus}) and Fanatic (NZ) (Shocking {Aus}).
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