Group 1-producing stallion War Chant dies in WA

War Chant, the Western Australian-based sire of 46 stakes winners, including Group 1 winning mare Silent Sedition, has died aged 27.

A winner of the Breeders’ Cup Mile for trainer Neil Drysdale in 2000, War Chant, a son of Danzig, began his breeding career at Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky.

Ron Sayers brought him to stand at Yarradale Stud in 2011 at Gidgegannup, and he was permanently based at the Western Australian farm from 2014.

He produced three stakes winners from his first WA crop, including Silent Sedition, who would win six stakes races, including the 2017 William Reid Stakes for trainer Andrew Noblet.

That mare, one of 12 stakes winners in Australia for War Chant, would sell for $1.5 million to Katsumi Yoshida in 2018.

The stallion, who stood at $22,000 at his peak, remained active even in 2023, serving eight mares. He also has 39 stakes winners as broodmare sire, including one-time Arrowfield Stud resident and now Woodside Park-based stallion Shalaa, and Kentucky derby winner Country House.

Yarradale Stud reported he had succumbed ‘to the infirmities of old age’ on Thursday,  

“He had the 3Ps – performance, pedigree & physique,” Yarradale Stud Manager Davy Hanratty said.

“His movie star good looks hit you first.

“He was a quirky devil at times but taught me to be a better horseman.  We are very lucky he has built a terrific reputation as a broodmare sire, and rest assured, we haven’t seen the last of his name in the record books.”