Red Ransom dead at 22

Red Ransom, sire of such champions as Perfect Sting, Electrocutionist, and Red Clubs, has died in Australia after abdominal surgery. A Roberto horse, he was 22.

Red Ransom had been standing the Southern Hemisphere season at Vinery Stud. The farm announces Sunday that he died Saturday because of complications from the surgery.

The late Paul Mellon bred and raced Red Ransom, a son of the Damascus mare Arabia. He won both his starts at 2 and set a Saratoga track record in his debut when he covered five furlongs in 56.80 seconds. Injury ended his racing career after just one start at 3.

Red Ransom also sired English champions Intikhab and Titian Time, Group 1-placed and United Arab Emirates Derby winner China Visit, and German champion Ransom o' War, among others. He has sired 53 graded winners to date and has progeny earnings of more than $80 million.