City Zip euthanised at the age of 19

City Zip, who grafted his way through the stallion ranks to the point that he produced four Breeders' Cup winners in the past three years, has been euthanised at the age of 19 due to chronic foot problems.

The son of Carson City rose from humble beginnings twice over: first as a $9,000 Keeneland January yearling; and then as a $7,500 freshman sire in New York.

A top-class sprinter on dirt for trainer Linda Rice, City Zip won nine of his 23 races, including a dead-heat for the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes.

A member of the Lane's End Farm roster since 2005, City Zip had stood the past season at a career-high fee of $50,000. He supplied seven winners at the highest level, including a notable double at the 2014 Breeders' Cup with Work All Week obliging in the Sprint and Dayatthespa scoring in the Filly and Mare Turf. From 13 crops of racing age, he has sired the winners of $78 million including 72 stakes winners.

City Zip's Breeders' Cup winners

Work All Week - Sprint (2014)

Dayatthespa - Filly and Mare Turf (2014)

Catch A Glimpse - Juvenile Fillies Turf (2015)

Finest City - Filly and Mare Sprint (2016)

Bred by Stronach Stables, City Zip moved to Lane's End shortly after his half-brother Ghostzapper won the Breeders' Cup Classic in 2004. Their dam Baby Zip - Broodmare of the Year in 2005, and also responsible for freshman sire City Wolf - was herself put down only in April.

Besides their Breeders' Cup victories, Dayatthespa went on to score twice more at the highest level, while Catch A Glimpse also appears on the roll of honour of the Belmont Oaks Invitational.

"City Zip has had many significant achievements at stud and it has been a privilege to stand him," said Will Farish, owner of Lane's End Farm.

"We are very grateful to the members of his stallion syndicate and our breeders for supporting this special horse throughout his career.

"City Zip's extraordinarily kind disposition and strong spirit endeared him to all, and he will be greatly missed. We want to thank Dr Scott Morrison of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital for the diligent and compassionate care that he and his associates provided to City Zip."

City Zip will be buried in the stallion cemetery at Lane's End Farm alongside the likes of Dixieland Band, Fappiano and Sovereign Dancer.