Unfuwain, top U.K. stallion, dead

Unfuwain, one of Britain's leading stallions, died Wednesday at the age of 17 at the Shadwell Estate Company's Nunnery Stud in Norfolk, England. The cause of death was said to be a neurological condition Unfuwain developed suddenly over the weekend.

Trained by Dick Hern to victory in the Princess of Wales's Stakes and the Jockey Club Stakes, both 1 1/2-mile Group 2 contests run at Newmarket, Unfuwain was the son of two of the Thoroughbred world's best producers, Northern Dancer and Height of Fashion, thus making him a half-brother to both Nashwan and Nayef.

At stud he sired two very good fillies in Petrushka, the winner of three Group 1 races, and Lailani, a two-time Group 1 winner in Europe as well as the winner of the Grade 1 Flower Bowl Invitational at Belmont Park.