CAPTAIN AL, one of South Africa’s outstanding stallions of recent years and the leading light at championship-winning stud Klawervlei, has died from complications following an operation for laminitis in a hind hoof.

The Equus Champion Sire of 2014/2015 was about to turn 21.

His most notable progeny include Carry On Alice, Captain America, Hill Fifty Four, Captain Of All, William Longsword and All Is Secret.

Bred in South Africa and born in 1996, Captain Al was by the champion sire Al Mufti (USA) out of Complete Warrior mare Off To War. On the track, he won nine races, including the Grade 1 Cape Guineas.

He retired to stud in 1999 and was an immediate success, eventually racking up 11 Grade 1 winners and more than R110-million in stake earnings. Apart from his champion sire title, he also garnered two Equus Outstanding Stallion awards and was the champion sire of two-year-olds eight seasons in a row.

His last advertised stud fee – in 2016 – was R250,000.

-TAB News.