FETHARD, Ireland (AP):

Sadler's Wells' days as a sire are over.

The 27-year-old thoroughbred who sired Galileo, High Chaparral and Montjeu among 69 Group One winners retired from stud duties at Coolmore yesterday.

"I think Sadler's Wells is generally acknowledged as the best sire Europe has ever seen and we feel very privileged to have been associated with him," Coolmore manager Christy Grassick said.

In good condition

"Despite his advancing years, he is still in remarkably good condition and I hope he enjoys a long and happy retirement. His influence will be felt for many years to come and in Galileo, Montjeu and High Chaparral, we are delighted to have his three best sons at Coolmore."

Foaled in the United States in 1981 and son of Northern Dancer, Sadler's Wells won the Irish 2000 Guineas, Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes as a 3-year-old colt trained in Ireland by Vincent O'Brien. He won six of his eleven starts and prize money of 575,000 pounds (US$1.13 million).

Like his own sire, the colt became far more famous at stud with Galileo and High Chaparral triumphant in the English Derbies of 2001 and 2002, and High Chaparral winning the 2002 Breeders Cup Turf and returning a year later to dead-heat with Johar.

Another colt, Montjeu, won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, Paris, in 1999.

In November 2007, a 5-year-old Sadler's Wells daughter, Playful Act, was sold at the Keeneland breeding stock sale for a world record price for a broodmare of US$10.5 million.