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CA Steward William Meyers Passes Away

Edited CHRB Press Release

William 'Will' Meyers, a California steward for nearly 40 years, passed away Saturday at the age of 69.

Will came from a racing family. His father was a steward and racing secretary.

“Naturally, I started working with horses myself,” he once said. “When I was a boy we lived in Arcadia, then Coronado, and on weekends I would go down to Caliente to groom and pony horses. Later, I worked as a stewards' aide in Stockton, Sacramento, and Ferndale.”

Meyers rose through the ranks of racing officials and became a steward in 1984. He was part of the steward rotation in California until February in advance of a heart operation. He served at many of the major tracks and fair meets.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret, three children, and two grandchildren. Funeral arrangements are pending.

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Champion NH Sire Flemensfirth Dies At 31

Flemensfirth (Alleged–Ethelreda {GB}, by Diesis {GB}), who was a two-time champion sire in the jumping sphere, died at The Beeches Stud on Friday. The pensioned Coolmore stallion was 31.

Bred by Mill Ridge Farm, the Mar. 16 foal was a $45,000 Keeneland November weanling turned $290,000 Keeneland September yearling when sold to Darley Stud Management from the Mill Ridge Sales consignment. Trained by John Gosden, Flemensfirth won on debut at two, before taking the G1 Prix Lupin as a 3-year-old in 1995 and the G1 Premio Roma at four in the colours of Sheikh Mohammed. Retired to The Beeches Stud in 1998, he carried a mark of 9-5-1-0 and $368,739 in earnings to stud with him.

“Flemensfirth was a fantastic stallion and a great character who will be sadly missed by everyone here,” said Robert McCarthy. “We are extremely grateful to all the staff here along with our vets and farriers who took such good care of him throughout his time at the Beeches. We would also like to thank all the breeders who supported him and made him champion sire and to the Magnier Family who entrusted us with him. He covered 22 full seasons before enjoying his retirement in great health right until the end. He was in his paddock until 9 o'clock last night.”

Known primarily as a sire of top-class jumpers, Flemensfirth's best progeny include G1 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Imperial Commander (Ire), Flemenstar (Ire), Tidal Bay (Ire), Lostintranslation (Ire), Tornado Flyer (Ire), Colreevy (Ire), Relegate (Ire), Total Enjoyment (Ire), and Royal Ascot winner Jennies Jewel (Ire).

From the family of GI Frizette S. heroine Bundler (Raise A Native), the bay was also related to GI Santa Barbara H. heroine Mountain Bear (GB) (Welsh Pageant {Fr}). His final crop of foals were born in 2019.

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Champion And Breeders’ Cup Winner Daylami Euthanised At 29

Champion Daylami (Ire) (Doyoun {Ire}–Daltawa {Ire}, by Miswaki), a winner of seven Group 1 races worldwide, has been euthanised due to the infirmities of old age, the Aga Khan Studs announced on Wednesday. He was two weeks shy of his official 29th birthday on Apr. 20.

Racing for first his breeder, His Highness The Aga Khan, and later on in the blue silks of Godolphin, the 1994 foal was second in the 1996 G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud at two and grabbed a Classic laurel in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains. A trio of top-level placings followed that year, at Ascot in the St James's Palace S., and then back in France in the Prix Jacques le Marois and Prix du Moulin.

In 1998, Daylami's 4-year-old season, he exchanged the Aga Khan's green and red silks for the royal blue of Godolphin and left Alain de Royer-Dupre's yard for Saeed bin Suroor's. Both the G1 Eclipse S. and the GI Man o' War S. in England and the U.S. went his way, and it was at five in 1999 that he enjoyed his greatest season on the racecourse. His first victory of the year was in the Coronation Cup, and three more Group/Grade 1 triumphs followed in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S., the Champion S. at Leopardstown, and in his career swansong, the Breeders' Cup Turf at Gulfstream Park that November. For his efforts, he was named the Cartier Horse of the Year, as well as the Eclipse Champion Grass Horse.

At stud, he sired Classic winner Grey Swallow (Ire) and multiple Group 1 winner Voila Ici (Ire) among his 14 stakes winners. His daughters have foaled 46 stakes winners, including top-level winners Arcano (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Grand Glory (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), Logician (GB) (Frankel {GB}), and Pierro (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}).

A half-brother to G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero and sire Dalakhani (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), Daylami has lived as a pensioner at the Aga Khan Studs at his birthplace in Ireland for the past four years under the care of Joe Doyle. A memorial will commemorate the classy grey at Gilltown Stud in due course.

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Blue Diamond Stud’s Group 1 Producer Pearling Passes At 17

Pearling (Storm Cat–Mariah's Storm, by Rahy), the dam of triple Group 1 winner and stallion Decorated Knight (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), passed away this week, Imad Al Sagar's Blue Diamond Stud announced on Tuesday. The 17-year-old, who was set to return to Frankel this season, foaled a Frankel (GB) filly this week, the stud confirmed to the TDN.

“Very sad to lose Pearling this week,” the stud tweeted. “She was one of the first mares to join Blue Diamond and gave us a true star in Decorated Knight. She leaves a lasting legacy with us and we are lucky to have three of her daughters.”

Bred by Pacelco in Kentucky, she ran second in two starts Stateside, and was offered by Highclere Stud during the 2011 Tattersalls December Mares Sale in foal to Galileo. She brought 1.3 million gns from Tony Nerses on behalf of Saleh Al Homaizi and Al Sagar who ran Blue Diamond Stud jointly at that time. The foal she was carrying was Decorated Knight. Put back through the ring at the 2018 edition of that sale also in foal to Galileo to dissolve their partnership, she hammered for 2.4 million to Blue Diamond Stud Farm UK, which is now operated solely by Al Sagar.

She also has the winning Ambrosia (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who went to WinStar for 1.3 million gns at Tattersalls December that year. In total, Pearling produced seven foals, with her latest pair the 5-year-old mare Blue Diamond (Ire), a full-sister to Decorated Knight, and filly Haute Couture (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who arrived in 2021. Blue Diamond was offered at the 2018 Tattersalls December Foal Sale, and was picked up by Blue Diamond for 1.7 million gns.

A full-sister to six-time Group 1 winner and 'Iron Horse' Giant's Causeway who would go on to stallion success in America, Pearling is also a full to outstanding producer You'resothrilling, a dual group winner. The latter has seven black-type winners to her name, led by dual Classic winner and sire Gleneagles (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

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