Dual top-level winner and sire Rock Hard Ten dies aged 20

Dual Grade 1 winner Rock Hard Ten, who had been standing at Jeju Stud Farm in South Korea since 2013, has died according to Korea Racing Authority records.

The 20-year-old son of Kris S out of Tersa was a Madeleine Paulson homebred whom she later raced with Mercedes Stables.

He started racing at three and by his third third start was Grade 1-placed in the 2004 Santa Anita Derby for trainer Jason Orman.

Runner-up in the Preakness Stakes, he followed with wins in the Swaps Breeders' Cup Stakes and Grade 1 Malibu Stakes. He won the Malibu while trained by Richard Mandella.

He was undefeated at four in three starts - the Grade 2 Strub Stakes, Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap and Grade 2 Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap. He retired with $1,870,380 in earnings.

Rock Hard Ten stood for nine seasons at Lane's End. He sired 25 black-type stakes winners, including North American Graded stakes winners Black Onyx, Capital Plan, Doubles Partner, Krypton, Lady Ten, Nereid, Quality Rocks, Summersault, The Mailet, Tonito M and Utopian. All but Black Onyx and Tonito M won on turf.

Rock Hard Ten's son Black Onyx wins the Horseshoe Casino Spiral Stakes at Turfway ParkCredit: Matt Wooley

Rock Hard Ten has sired 330 winners and his progeny have amassed more than $27 million in earnings. He started out strong with Korean breeders, breeding 94 mares in his first year at stud there. By 2021, however, his book had fallen to ten mares.

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