News Article

Industry mourns passing of top stallion

16 / 10 / 2012 Article by: Editor
Savoire Vivre - he was one of Tasmania's all time best-performed stallions icon Click to enlarge

TASMANIAN thoroughbred racing received a body blow this week with the passing of one of the state’s most successful stallions Savoire Vivre.

Armidale Stud announced yesterday that Savoire Vivre (GB) was humanely euthanized due to advanced laminitis.

SAVOIRE VIVRE (GB) was an imported stallion by the immortal Sadlers Wells (13 times winner of the Champion European Stallion), from the Triple Crown winning mare OH SO SHARP. Purchased by Denis Whishaw through Sydney Bloodstock agent and pedigree guru, David Bay, SAVOIRE VIVRE was only one of 3 sons of SADLER’S WELLS currently at stud in Australia. Rather than syndicate the stallion, Denis approached Ken and Jenny Breese (great friends and partners in another Armidale Sire LADONI) to join in bringing the stallion to Australia.

With his first crop of runners SAVOIRE VIVRE was third leading FIRST SEASON SIRE in Australia – behind SHOW A HEART and GALILEO (another son of SADLERS WELLS). This was no mean feat considering the lack of racing and prizemoney in Tasmania. Flying filly RUSTIA from his first crop, was Leading Two Year Old of the Year in Tasmania.

Over the years he has gone on to be a very successful sire with stakes winners including LIFE TO THE FULL, METHUSELAH, RUSTIA and VIVRE LA NETT, and stakes placed horses DREAM FLYER, RHUMB LINE, LOVE THE MOMENT, WITH DECORUM, WHO’S YA DADDY, SAVAL PRINCE, AUNTY VAL, NATIONAL TRUST and VIVA DELSPEC.

He is one of the few Tasmanian sires to have sired metropolitan winners in SA, Queensland, NSW and Victoria, and his progeny are keenly sought after by some very astute Victorian trainers. At this years Tasmanian Yearling Sale his progeny averaged over $21,000 and the majority sold to interstate buyers.

SAVOIRE VIVRE (GB) won the Leading Tasmanian Sire award for the 2011 -2012 season with winners of over $1.2 million.

Armidale Stud proprietors David and Robyn Whishaw paid tribute to their staff, their vet Michael Morris and their stallion farrier David Bartley who worked hard to try to halt the progression of the laminitis, and in the last weeks did everything they could to make the horse comfortable.

“When we realised that the condition was indeed terminal the decision was made not to prolong any suffering,” Mrs Wishaw said.

“Savoire Vivre is to be buried in his paddock at Armidale and we plan to plant a tree in his memory.”

“Hopefully many of his daughters will go on to become good broodmares and his legacy will live on.”

“We would like to thank all our clients who supported Savoire Vivre at stud, and those who purchased his progeny through the sale ring,” she said.