Breeders’ Cup Mile Champ War Chant Passes Away In Australia

War Chant (Danzig), the winner of the 2000 GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs, passed away on Thursday, Apr. 11. Housed at Yarradale Stud in Western Australia, the 27-year-old stallion succumbed to old age at the Gidgegannup nursery that he had called home for over a decade, the breeder said in a Thursday release.

War Chant was bred and raced by Marge and Irving Cowan, and trained by Neil Drysdale. Out of MGISW Hollywood Wildcat (Kris S.), the homebred finished ninth in the GI Kentucky Derby and ended his racing career with a win later that year in the Breeders' Cup Mile. In seven starts he amassed earnings of $1,130,600.

Beginning his stud duties at Robert Clay's Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky in 2001, War Chant performed shuttle duty on occasion to Chile and Western Australia. In 2011, after prolonged negotiations, the late Ron Sayers managed to secure the Southern-hemisphere breeding rights for War Chant for the next three years.

Three years later, the sire relocated permanently to Western Australia following the breeding season. He was responsible for 46 stakes winners world-wide with 12 of those based down under.

The stallion was regularly used to educate young staff in the breeding barn. His professional manner while covering mares meant that he was the perfect teacher for the younger staff who were keen to perfect their handling skills.

“He had the three Ps–Performance, Pedigree and Physique,” said Davy Hanratty, Yarradale's Stud Manager. “His movie star good looks hit you first. He was a quirky devil at times but taught me to be a better horseman. We are very lucky he has built a terrific reputation as a broodmare sire, and rest assured, we haven't seen the last of his name in the record books.”

 

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Salute the Stars Upsets Kingsbarns In Pegasus Thriller

Salute the Stars continued his rise through the ranks here with a determined victory in the Pegasus S. at Monmouth Park.

Coming into the race riding a two race win-streak which began when he wrapped his juvenile season with a victory against maidens at Ellis on the grass, he moved from John Ortiz to Brad Cox before his seasonal bow last out May 14 in an off-turf allowance. Winning there by a neck, he was made the 5-2 second choice behind Kingsbarns, who was reappearing for the first time since his 14th place in the GI Kentucky Derby. Bumped and steadied at the start, Salute the Stars pulled early for his head, leaving him rank entering the clubhouse turn. Joel Rosario was finally able to reason with his charge as he settled in fourth off the rail on the backstretch, and slowly inched closer from the three path in the final bend. Rallying to the outside of runners, he set his sights on Kingsbarn passing the furlong marker and surged late to run that one down by a neck on the wire.

“I was not feeling good on the backside. He was too aggressive going into the first turn. On the backside Joel did a good job getting him to relax. Even at the three-eighths pole I thought `he's not going anywhere.',” admitted Trace Messina, Brad Cox's assistant. “But when he straightened out he got going. We'll see [on the GI Haskell]. Obviously that's an option. We have a lot of 3-year-olds in this division. But that's a possibility for sure.”

The most accomplished runner of his siblings thus far, Salute the Stars is the first black-type winner for Star Sighting. He has a 2-year-old full-sister Jazz Party, and a 2023 half-sister by Hard Spun. Said dam herself hails from a busy family as the half-sister to MGISW Carpe Diem (Giant's Causeway); GISW & MGSW Farrell (Malibu Moon); MGSP Doncaster Rover (War Chant); GISW J. B.'s Thunder (Thunder Gulch); and GSP Semper Fortis (Distorted Humor). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

PEGASUS S., $150,000, Monmouth, 6-17, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.87, ft.
1–SALUTE THE STARS, 120, c, 3, by Candy Ride (Arg)
           1st Dam: Star Sighting, by Malibu Moon
           2nd Dam: Rebridled Dreams, by Unbridled's Song
           3rd Dam: Key Cents, by Corridor Key
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O/B-Gary & Mary West Stables Inc. (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Joel Rosario. $90,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, $210,960.
2–Kingsbarns, 122, c, 3, Uncle Mo–Lady Tapit, by Tapit. ($250,000 Ylg '21 FTSAUG; $800,000 2yo '22 FTFMAR). O-Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-Parks Investment Group, LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $30,000.
3–Howgreatisnate, 122, g, 3, Speightster–Bee Dees Bid, by Tapit. ($67,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Imaginary Stables; B-B. D. Gibbs Farm, LLC (KY); T-Elizabeth L. Dobles. $15,000.
Margins: NK, 2 1/4, NO. Odds: 2.90, 0.50, 10.20.
Also Ran: Subrogate, Classic Catch, No Confession. Scratched: Alternate Reality, Moreau.

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