Darley’s homebred stallion Bernardini euthanised
Godolphin America’s former Australian shuttle stallion Bernardini (A.P. Indy) has died at the age of 18 at Jonabell Farm due to complications from laminitis.
The homebred son of A.P. Indy (Seattle Slew) won six of his eight starts for Thomas Albertrani on the racetrack, including the Preakness Stakes (Gr 1, 9.5f) and Travers Stakes (7.5f) in a thrilling 2006 season, which subsequently saw him crowned the highest rated three-year-old in the world and Eclipse Champion.
Unraced at two, Bernardini broke his maiden on his second start when winning at Gulfstream Park by eight lengths and then notched up five Graded-race successes in a row culminating in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. His final start came when second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Bernardini shuttled to Australia for eight seasons between 2008 and 2015, siring five-time Group 1 winner Boban among 15 individual southern hemisphere stakes winners.
Boban, the winner of five Group 1 races from 1350 metres to the mile, including the Doomben 10,000 (Gr 1, 1350m), Emirates Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) and Epsom Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m), joined ATC Champagne Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Ruud Awakening and New Zealand galloper Go Indy Go as Group 1 winners for the stallion.
Of his US-bred cohort, Bernardini sired four individual Group/Grade 1 winners from his first crop including Travers (Gr 1, 10f) and Cigar Mile (Gr 1, 8f) winner Stay Thirsty as well as Woodward (Gr 1, 9f) and Cigar Mile winner To Honor And Serve.
Among his other leading performers include Godolphin’s homebred Travers and Woodward winner Alpha, Shadwell homebred Vosburgh and Stonestreet’s Cavorting and Rachel’s Valentina.
To date he has sired 80 black-type winners, 48 Group/Graded winners, and 15 top-level scorers worldwide.
The fifth foal out of Starlet Stakes (Gr 1, 8.5f) scorer Cara Rafaela (Quiet American), he had also made his mark as a broodmare sire when becoming the youngest stallion to reach 50 black-type winners as a damsire.
Among his 11 top-level winners as a broodmare sire is VRC Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) winner Angel Of Truth (Animal Kingdom), as well as US-bred scorers Maxfield (Street Sense), Catholic Boy (More Than Ready), Serengeti Empress (Alternation), Dunbar Road (Quality Road), Colonel Liam (Liam’s Map) and Paris Lights (Curlin).
He is also the broodmare sire of this season’s Queensland Group 3 juvenile winner Subterranean (Rebel Dane) and Kosciuszko (1200m) winner Handle The Truth (Star Witness).
Michael Banahan, director of farm operations for Godolphin America, said: “Bernardini was one of a kind. From the day he was born, he exuded class. He was that crop’s best foal, best yearling and best racehorse. His brilliance was only surpassed by his wonderful character.
“He will be sorely missed by all on the farm but especially by his handler for the past 15 years, Philip Hampton. It was an honour to be a custodian of this Classic-winning stallion whose legacy will live long as a broodmare sire.”
Albertrani added: “He was such a majestic animal. He was very talented, one of the best horses I’ve ever been around. I just feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to train him. He was a star.”
Jimmy Bell, president of Godolphin USA, said: “Bernardini was Sheikh Mohammed’s first winner of a Triple Crown race – and a homebred one, too – and then a leading sire. We’ve been blessed to have him.
“A beautiful horse, and a lovely character, we are lucky to have so many of his daughters on the farm to continue his legacy.”