Darley Shuttler Dies of Heart Attack

Tara Madgwick - Monday February 13

A multiple Group I winning son of Sadler's Wells, who shuttled to Australia for Darley for three seasons, Refuse to Bend (IRE) has passed away in France at age 12.

Refuse to Bend was about to stand his first season in France following stints at Kildangan Stud and Whitsbury Manor Stud and died of a heart attack at Haras du Logis last Friday.

Refuse To Bend was initially trained by Dermot Weld, who sent him out to win the Group I National Stakes and 2,000 Guineas before he was purchased privately by Sheikh Mohammed and transferred to Saeed Bin Suroor for his four-year-old campaign, during which he won the Queen Anne and Eclipse Stakes.

Retired to Kildangan Stud at a fee of €20,000 in 2005, Refuse To Bend sired champion filly Sarafina in his third crop and last season's Group I Prix Saint-Alary heroine Wavering in his fourth.

In total, he has sired 15 stakes winners including the Australian stakes-winners Right of Refusal and Benny's Buttons.

"Refuse To Bend's death will be a significant loss for breeders, Haras du Logis and to Darley," said Sam Bullard, director of stallions at Darley.

"He was a superb racehorse and he had it all ahead of him as a stallion. Refuse To Bend's progeny had a wonderful 2010 and 2011 and as a result he was proving very popular in France this year."

Advertisment

More Reading...

Unwanted in Sale Ring - War Machine Justifies Breeders Faith

Jim and David Wallace are savouring the best of both worlds with their Ardsley Stud homebred War Machine.

New Epaulette SW Adds to Monovale Farm success

Epee Beel’s victory in Saturday’s Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton was a welcome result for breeder Monovale Farm.

Sires With Winners - Tuesday April 16

Here is the full list of 17 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.

Arrowfield Blueblood Wins on Debut

Unsold Arrowfield yearlings frequently find their way into the care of Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich and the pair produced a promising debut winner for The Autumn Sun at Scone on Tuesday.

Blueblood Savabeel Colt Set for Debut

Regally-bred colt Magice has plenty of pressure to live up to his family name, but he will begin that challenge when he makes his debut in the Arawa Park Hotel 2YO 1150 at Rotorua on Wednesday.

Plenty of Drawcards in NZB National Online Yearling Sale Catalogue

With countless highlights throughout its 100-lot catalogue, the 2024 NZB National Online Yearling Sale gives buyers access to a quality selection of yearlings that would not have been out of place in the Book 1 or Book 2 sessions at Karaka earlier in the year.

Hawaii Five Oh - Exciting Addition for Vinery Stud

Vinery Stud have announced that the royally bred Hawaii Five Oh, a stallion with an uncanny likeness and profile to his illustrious sire I Am Invincible, will join their stallion roster for the 2024 breeding season.

Stallion Syndicates – What Did They Buy This Year?

Last week we had a look at the purchasing of stallion syndicates in terms of the sires they like to support, but this week we’re looking at their purchases this year and which vendors they keep going back to.

First Win for Frankel Half-Brother

Juddmonte Farms homebred Kingman colt Kikkuli attracted plenty of interest at Newmarket overnight when making his seasonal return and the half-brother to Frankel duly saluted.

One to Watch – Ballarat

Champion trainer Chris Waller doesn’t send out a lot of three year olds making their debut on Victorian provincial tracks, but he let one go at Ballarat on Tuesday and the daughter of I Am Invincible looks as though there will be more wins in store.