British stallion Nashwan dies

The death of Nashwan on Friday night has struck the British breeding industry a devastating blow.

The 16-year-old stallion was euthanized at Sheikh Hamdan al-Maktoum's Nunnery Stud in England after complications developed following surgery on his right hind leg. He had spent his entire career as part of Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Estate racing and breeding operation.

Nashwan was a grand success as both a racehorse and as a stallion. Trained by the recently deceased Dick Hern and ridden by Willie Carson, he pulled off a remarkable quadruple as a 3-year-old, winning the 2000 Guineas, the Epsom Derby, the Eclipse Stakes, and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes. At stud he sired two-time King George winner Swain, 1996 Eclipse Award winner Wandesta, One So Wonderful, winner of the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes vs. colts, and Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Nadia, a candidate for Saturday's John C. Mabee Handicap at Del Mar.

A Kentucky-bred son of Blushing Groom, Nashwan was out of the great broodmare Height of Fashion and was a half-brother to his Shadwell companion Unfuwain. Both Height of Fashion and Unfuwain died within the last six months. Nashwan was also a full brother to Nayef, who will attempt to repeat his sibling's victory in the King George on Saturday.