Top-class British juvenile and prolific sire Fast Company was euthanised today when his health deteriorated markedly from an existing medical condition.
Trained at two by Brian Meehan at Manton in Wiltshire, South England, Fast Company won on his debut in July by three lengths at Salisbury before stepping up to Group company in style when winning G3 Acomb Stakes at York by three and a half lengths. He raced just once more in 2007, when contesting one of the best-ever runnings of the Dewhurst Stakes, finishing a half-length second to champion New Approach, and ahead of G1 winners Raven's Pass, Rio de la Plata and Dark Angel.
Injury prevented any further visits to the racecourse and he retired in 2011 to Rathasker Stud in Ireland, where he covered his first five seasons. After one year at Overbury Stud in England, Fast Company moved to Darley's Kildangan Stud in 2017, where he proved popular, his fee rising from €7,000 to his current €12,000.
Since his runners hit the track, Fast Company has provided a consistent source of winners, many at elite level. His first crop in 2012 included Royal Ascot G2-winning juvenile Baitha Alga, as well as G1 Classic filly Devonshire.
He sired his first Classic winner in his second crop, the Adrian Keatley-trained Jet Setting, who won the Irish 1000 Guineas. Famed for tough and durable performers, this crop also included the progressive Safe Voyage, who was still performing at the highest level in 2019 at the age of six, finishing third in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.
Fast Company, currently ranked 114 in the TRC turf sires' standings, also shuttled to South America for two seasons and made an instant impression, siring five G1 performers, headed by Robert Bruce. Unbeaten in his native Chile, including four G1 victories, Robert Bruce later transferred to the U.S. under the care of Chad Brown and won the G1 Arlington Million.
Sam Bullard, Director of Stallions at Darley, said, “Fast Company has been a great servant and will be greatly missed by the team at Kildangan Stud. He has been a reliable source of winners for breeders and with his first Darley-sired runners hitting the track this year, he was a stallion with his best years in front of him.”
Eamon Moloney, Nominations Manager, said, “It is very disappointing to lose Fast Company, who had been so well supported since moving to Kildangan Stud. A remarkably good-looking individual with a wonderful personality, he will be sorely missed at the stud.”