Future Pearl, who won the World Pool Gold Cup in 2023 and lines up again this year, is one of a number of runners in Sunday’s big race who have Sadler’s Wells close up in their pedigree (Picture: Candiese Lenferna)
Saah Whitelaw
When looking at results of leading staying races around the world, it is hard to overlook the influence exerted in these by contests by descendants of the legendary stallion Sadler’s Wells.
Sadler’s Wells, whose offspring included four time G1 Ascot Gold Cup winner Yeats and dual G1 Gold Cup hero Kayf Tara, is present in the pedigrees of five of the last six Gold Cup winners, while the great stallion’s name can be found in eight of the last nine winners of the English St Leger.
Another famous staying race, the G1 Melbourne Cup, has also felt the Sadler’s Wells influence.
Last year, the Melbourne Cup was won by Half Yours, whose sire St Jean was a paternal great grandson of Sadler’s Wells. The late St Jean was sired by Sadler’s Wells’ grandson Teofilo -who also sired Melbourne Cup winners Cross Counter, Twilight Payment and Without A Fight.
The Sadler’s Wells influence is felt even more strongly in the Irish St Leger thanks to his great son Galileo. Not only is Galileo the broodmare sire of 2025 Irish St Leger winner Al Riffa, but he is also the sire of Irish St Leger winners Kyprios, Search For A Song, Flag Of Honour, Order Of St George, Alandi and Sans Frontieres.
Remarkably, Galileo runners won the Irish St Leger every year from 2017-2020! In terms of chef-de-race dosage classification, Sadler’s Wells is assessed as a Classic/Solid influence. (A classic influence is said to be a stallion who throws a balanced mix of speed and stamina, while a solid influence is a stallion whose progeny tend to be best around middle to long distance).
In South Africa, similar trends can be found in major staying races as the entries for this year’s G3 World Pool Gold Cup clearly underlines.
Of the 14 horses entered for the Gold Cup, seven have Sadler’s Wells close up in their pedigrees.
This includes defending Gold Cup winner King Pelles, who is out of Galileo’s outstanding broodmare daughter Grail Maiden.
Galileo also ranks as the broodmare sire of the five time-winning KZN-based stayer Vihaan’s Bomb, who was entered for the Gold Cup but was not declared.
Sadler’s Wells’ paternal great grandson Futura looks set to be doubly represented in the Gold Cup, through his progressive son Ahead Of The Facts and former Equus Champion Stayer Future Pearl. The latter won the World Pool Gold Cup back in 2023.
Futura’s sire Dynasty also ranks as the sire of Irish Flame, with the latter represented by Enflame. Enflame has enjoyed a fine season with his efforts in 2025-2026 including a five length win in the Listed Wilgerbosdrift Caradoc Gold Cup and a three and a half length score in the Listed TAB Gold Bowl.
The first three home in last year’s Gold Cup, King Pelles, Holding Thumbs, Future Swing, all have Sadler’s Wells close up in their pedigrees.
The key to the Sadler’s Wells male line success in staying races has been through his son Fort Wood.
The latter sired Equus Champion Stayer Thundering Star, who won the (then) G1 Canon Gold Cup back in 2007.
Fort Wood is also broodmare sire of 2009 G1 Canon Gold Cup winner Mokaro, who vanquished Fort Wood gelding Noblewood into second spot when he captured his Gold Cup, while Fort Wood’s champion son Dynasty was responsible for Gold Cup winners Ancestral Fore, It’s My Turn and Dynasty’s Blossom.
