Death of Classic hero and top-class National Hunt sire Shantou at 28

Shantou, the St Leger winner who became one of the leading National Hunt sires of recent times, has died at the age of 28.

The son of Alleged, who was retired last December after sterling service at Burgage Stud, supplied high-class talents such as Grade 1 winners The Storyteller, Death Duty, Briar Hill and Morning Assembly, along with Cheltenham Festival winners Ballynagour, Polly Peachum and Beware The Bear.

Shantou lost his maiden status at the third attempt for John Gosden as a three-year-old, before finishing third behind Shaamit in the Derby. He then provided his trainer with a first Classic success in the St Leger, carrying the famous maroon and white silks of Sheikh Mohammed, and went on to land the Gran Premio del Jockey-Club later that year.

The Darley-bred colt added further top-level success at four in the Gran Premio di Milano, before a final career win in the Princess of Wales's Stakes, in which he saw off gallant globetrotter Swain by a neck in an exciting finish.

He retired with six victories from 14 races and earnings of more than £800,000.

Shantou and Frankie Dettori (left) beat Dushyantor and Pat Eddery by a neck at Doncaster

Shantou was out of the Grade 2-winning Shaima, a daughter of the great Oh So Sharp and a Shareef Dancer half-sister to Group 1 Prix Saint Alary scorer Rosefinch and the Group 2-placed Savoire Vivre.

He stood at stud in Italy before commencing a remarkable 16-season career at Burgage Stud in Co Carlow, standing initially at €4,000. His fee rose steadily as a result of his progeny's evident talents, and he spent his last three seasons standing for €10,000.

His best progeny on Racing Post Ratings, at 167, are festival winners Ballynagour, also second to Sizing Europe and Silviniaco Conti in Grade 1s, and The Storyteller, whose Grade 1 wins have come in the Champion Novice Chase at Punchestown and Champion Chase at Down Royal.

The Storyteller: Grade 1-winning chaser one of Shantou's leading offspring by RPRsCredit: Patrick McCann

Shantou finished seventh in last season's National Hunt sires championship, with Kauto Star Novices' Chase winner Shan Blue and Ascot Grade 2 scorer Allart also among those chipping in.

His progeny continued to be popular at the sales, with Gigginstown's Run Wild Fred and Sometime Soon both fetching £225,000 in recent years, while last autumn's Lisronagh maiden winner Jim Key sold to Hamish Macauley for £215,000 at the Goffs UK November Point-to-Point Sale.

The farm's Victor Connolly said at the time of his retirement: "We're just delighted that Shantou came our way. So many pedigrees that we're involved in have improved thanks to him and it just goes to show you that a good stallion does so much for a stud.

"He never covered loads of mares, we never went down that road with him, but he proved he could still be a very good sire, and his percentage of quality winners was always high.

"When a trainer finds a stallion that gives them everything, they just want more of them and Shantou's size eventually became irrelevant as it was about what he put into his runners. That's what good stallions do."

Read more

Meet the ambitious family reversing France's north-south racing divide (£)

Bunglejungleparty tops the charts at 125,000gns at Tattersalls August Sale

Harry Angel colt a 'man against boys' after topping Premier Sale at £220,000