STOWAWAY, one of Ireland’s busiest stallions in recent years, died suddenly this week at Ronnie O’Neill’s Whytemount Stud in Kells, Co Kilkenny.

The 21-year-old sire is responsible for Grade 1 winner Champagne Fever and the top class Hidden Cyclone, Western Leader and Outlander.

A son of Slip Anchor, Stowaway was a high class middle distance horse for Godolphin. The 1997 Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes was his biggest win. The horse died of a suspected ruptured artery around 6pm on Tuesday as he was being led in after being exercised in the lunge ring at Whytemount, his home since 2001.

Stud owner Ronnie O’Neill, told The Irish Field yesterday: “It was a big shock, he was gone in half a second. He was in wonderful form, he looked great and had been bucking and jumping. he was very well in himself.

“He was going great guns for us as a stallion and will be sadly missed here. I suppose every day is a bonus with that type of horse. There was huge interest in him from breeders in recent years and perhaps the best ones are to come yet from him.”

Bred by Hesmonds Stud, Stowaway was bought by Darley as a yearling for 25,000gns and showed plenty of racing ability. Initally he was trained by Michael Jarvis and joined Godolphin at three.

In 2001, he was purchased by Whytemount Stud and got off to a relatively slow start until Western Leader helped blaze a trail for him before Champagne Fever and Hidden Cyclone burst onto the racing scene.

“It was about 2009 before the first really serious breeder came here for Stowaway and it was hectic since then with him. He became very popular,” added O’Neill. Stowaway covered books of 306, 280 and 230 mares in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Both Whytemount’s dam of Hidden Cyclone and dam of Outlander are due to foal to Stowaway shortly at the stud. O’Neill also bred the smart Stowaway performer Mart Lane.

“Hidden Cyclone’s dam is due to foal in the next few days followed by Outlander’s dam. Outlander was a horse I always liked, he’s going the right way.

“We have 25 mares of our own here. Some are in foal to Stowaway and others to our new French stallion Valirann (by Nayef). We also have Salutino (by Monsun) and Mr Dinos (by Desert King).

“There’s huge interest in Valirann in his first season at stud and many of our good mares are going to him.

“We will miss Stowaway greatly but are hoping that Valirann can continue to fly the flag for us.”