THE dual Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Conduit, the only thoroughbred stallion standing in Northern Ireland, died last week at Tullyraine House following a short illness. He was just 15 years of age and his first crop of Irish-born foals are three.

The son of Dalakhani was highly regarded by stud owner Hugh Suffern who admired the chesnut not just for his racing performance but for his character and impeccable conformation. “He had great strength of character and seems to have passed that on to his progeny. He has a lot of nice stock on the ground and local trainers who have been breaking some of his three-year-olds are very pleased with them.”

The Michael Stoute-trained Conduit was champion three-year-old stayer in Europe in 2008 and joint-champion older horse the following season. He won seven races from two to four years, including four at the highest level. In addition to his two Grade 1 successes at Santa Anita, he landed the Group 1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Group 1 St Leger. He was third in the Group 1 Eclipse Stakes.

Ryan Moore rode Conduit in 13 of his 15 races but Jamie Spencer was on board when, on his final start at two, the colt claimed his maiden at Wolverhampton in September 2007. In the St Leger, Moore chose to ride Doctor Fremantle, who was also trained by Stoute, but could only finish eighth as Frankie Dettori partnered Conduit to his first Group 1 success.

Conduit was bred by Ballymacoll Stud, in whose colours he raced, and was the last of nine foals out of the unraced Sadler’s Wells mare Well Head. This half-sister to the Group 1 Irish 2,000 Guineas and Group 1 Champion Stakes winner Spectrum was dam also of the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes winner Hard Top (by Darshaan) and the listed winner Spray Gun (by Octagonal).

Through her daughter Spartan Girl, Well Head was grandam of My Tent Or Yours, who won two Grade 1 races over timber, the Fighting Fifth and Christmas Hurdles, and was runner-up three times in the Champion Hurdle. Through another daughter, Spring Symphony, she was grandam of the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes winner Glass Harmonium and the Group 3 John Porter Stakes winner Arab Spring.

Following his second Breeders’ Cup Turf success, Conduit’s final outing came in the Grade 1 Japan Cup in Tokyo where he finished fourth. He was then retired to Big Red Farm where he stood for six seasons and sired 137 winners. Among the best of these on the flat in Japan were Daiichi Terminal, Dudi, Sossusylei and Sound Do It while he was also sire of the Tokyo Jump Spring Chase winner Thinking Dancer who was second in last year’s Grade 1 Nakayama Grand Jump.

Conduit’s first runner from his Irish-born crops is the Nick Hitchins-owned and bred Decora who, trained by Mick Channon, failed by just a neck to win her maiden at Wolverhampton early this month. The chesnut ran twice as a two-year-old, finishing fourth first time out at Lingfield in May and third the following month at Goodwood.