Darley stallion Fast Company was euthanised on Friday at the age of 15 after his health deteriorated markedly from an existing medical condition.
Fast Company was trained by Brian Meehan during his two-year-old season in 2007, scoring on debut before taking the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York. He then finished second to New Approach in that year’s Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes.
Following that display, Fast Company was purchased by Godolphin, but injury ruled him out of appearing on a racecourse again.
The son of Danehill Dancer began stud duties at Rathasker Stud in 2011 where he spent five seasons before moving to Overbury Stud in Gloucestershire for the 2016 breeding season.
It was during 2016 that his best progeny, Jet Setting, emerged and she secured a memorable victory over the Aidan O’Brien-trained Minding in the Irish 1,000 Guineas for trainer Adrian Keatley and owners the Equinegrowthpartners.
That secured Fast Company a move to Darley’s Irish base at Kildangan Stud, where his fee rose from €7,000 to a career-high fee of €12,000.
He also sired the Group 2-winning Baitha Alga, Devonshire, Safe Voyage, and the Chilean four-time Group 1 winner Robert Bruce.
Sam Bullard, Director of Stallions, said: Fast Company has been a great servant and will be greatly missed by the team at Kildangan Stud.
“He has been a reliable source of winners for breeders and with his first Darley-sired runners hitting the track this year, he was a stallion with his best years in front of him.”
Eamon Moloney, Nominations Manager, said: “It is very disappointing to lose Fast Company who had been so well supported since moving to Kildangan Stud. A remarkably good-looking individual with a wonderful personality, he will be sorely missed at the stud.”
