Green Desert (16 April 1983 – 9 September 2015) was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire.

Green Desert
SireDanzig
GrandsireNorthern Dancer
DamForeign Courier
DamsireSir Ivor
SexStallion
Foaled(1983-04-16)April 16, 1983
DiedSeptember 9, 2015(2015-09-09) (aged 32)
CountryUnited States
ColourBay
BreederEaton Farms, Inc & Red Bull Stables
OwnerMaktoum Al Maktoum
TrainerMichael Stoute
Record14: 5-5-0
Earnings£222,453
Major wins
July Stakes (1985)
Flying Childers Stakes (1985)
European Free Handicap (1986)
July Cup (1986)
Sprint Cup (1986)
Awards
Timeform rating 118 (1985), 127 (1986)

Racing career

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1985: two-year-old season

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After finishing second on his racecourse debut, Green Desert won the July Stakes over six furlongs at Newmarket Racecourse. He then finished second to Nomination in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood before dropping back to five furlongs to win the Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse. On his final appearance of the season he finished fourth to Luqman in the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury.[1]

1986: three-year-old season

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Green Desert began his second season by winning the European Free Handicap over seven furlongs at Newmarket and then finished second to Dancing Brave in the 2000 Guineas. He made no impact on heavy ground in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and then finished second to Sure Blade in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. When brought back to sprint distances Green Desert's form improved as he won the July Cup, finished third to Last Tycoon in the William Hill Sprint Championship and won the Haydock Sprint Cup. In his last two races he finished fourth in the Prix de l'Abbaye and last of nine when tried on dirt in the Breeders' Cup Sprint.[2]

Stud record

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Standing at Shadwell Stud,[3] Green Desert was the sire of four Champion Sprinters and seventy-two individual Stakes winners.[4]

Green Desert was retired from stud duty in 2011 and was euthanized at the Nunnery Stud on 9 September 2015 at the age of thirty-two.[5]

Major winners

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c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding

Foaled Name Sex Major wins
1988 Sheikh Albadou c Nunthorpe Stakes
Breeders' Cup Sprint
Haydock Sprint Cup
1988 Collier Bay g Irish Champion Hurdle
Champion Hurdle
1991 Owington c July Cup
1993 Oriental Express g Queen Elizabeth II Cup
Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup
1993 Shinko Forest c Takamatsunomiya Kinen
1994 Cape Cross c Lockinge Stakes
1995 Desert Prince c Irish 2,000 Guineas
Prix du Moulin
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
1995 Tamarisk c Haydock Sprint Cup
1995 White Heart g Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap
Turf Classic Stakes
1996 Bint Allayl f Cartier Champion Two-year-old Filly
1997 Invincible Spirit c Haydock Sprint Cup
1998 Rose Gypsy f Poule d'Essai des Pouliches
1999 Heat Haze f Beverly D. Stakes
Matriarch Stakes
2000 Desert Lord g Prix de l'Abbaye
2000 Oasis Dream c Middle Park Stakes
July Cup
Nunthorpe Stakes
2003 Markab g Haydock Sprint Cup

Sire of sires

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Several of Green Desert's sons became successful breeding stallions and three had exceptional success:

Pedigree

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Pedigree of Green Desert, bay stallion, 1983
Sire
Danzig
Northern Dancer Nearctic Nearco
Lady Angela
Natalma Native Dancer
Almahmoud
Pas de Nom Admiral's Voyage Crafty Admiral
Olympia Lou
Petitioner Petition
Steady Aim
Dam
Foreign Courier
Sir Ivor Sir Gaylord Turn-to
Somethingroyal
Attica Mr. Trouble
Athenia
Courtly Dee Never Bend Nasrullah
Lalun
Tulle War Admiral
Judy-Rae (family: A4)

References

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  1. ^ Timeform staff (1986). Racehorses of 1985. Timeform. ISBN 0-900599-42-1.
  2. ^ Timeform staff (1987). Racehorses of 1986. Timeform. ISBN 0-900599-44-8.
  3. ^ "Green Desert Race Record". Archived from the original on June 14, 2009. Retrieved November 17, 2009.
  4. ^ Racing Post
  5. ^ Ron Mitchell (September 9, 2015). "Top Sire Green Desert Euthanized at Age 32". The Blood-Horse.