Top Australian sire Encosta de Lago dies at 25

Encosta de Lago, a leading sire and broodmare sire in Australia, has died, Coolmore Australia said Saturday. The son of Fairy King was 25.

Encosta de Lago won three of eight starts, taking the Group 1 Vichealth Cup, Group 2 Ascot Vale, and Group 2 Quantas Bill Stutt. As a sire, he is represented by 1,136 winners worldwide, including 116 stakes winners, for career progeny earnings of $146,645,036.

Encosta de Lago's progeny in his native country are led by two-time Australian champion sprinter Chautauqua, Australian champion 3-year-old Racing To Win, and champion fillies Alinghi and English. He is also the sire of Hong Kong Horse of the Year Jumbo Star, Hong Kong champion Liberator, New Zealand champions Princess Coup and Puccini, and South African champion Delago Deluxe.

“Encosta will be greatly missed by all who dealt with him at Coolmore over the last 14 years," Coolmore's Tom Magnier said in a release. "He was a horse with a beautiful nature, and we were incredibly lucky to have him. His legacy will live on through his sire-line descendants like Zoustar and Rubick, as well as through his daughters, who have already made him champion broodmare sire.”