Breeding & Racing Magazine

Top South African Sire Strike Smartly Dies Aged 12

In South Africa, 12-year-old stallion Strike Smartly (Mr Prospector-Classy 'n Smart, by Smarten) "has died after suffering a heart attack" at owner Bridget Oppenheimer's Mauritzfontein Stud at Kimberley (where he stood alongside 1993 Gr1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Fort Wood) reported racingpost.com. Strike Smartly (a full-brother to leading US sire Smart Strike & half-brother to Gr1 Breeder's Cup Distaff winner Dance Smartly) finished 8th in the recently-completed 2008-09 season South African leading sires' list. From his initial 2 crops of racing age, Strike Smartly sired Gr1-winners Smart Banker (winner of the Horse Chestnut Stakes & Champion Challenge for Charles Laird) & Bouquet-Garni (winner of the South African Derby for Mike de Kock). He was set to cover a full book in the current season. On the track himself, Strike Smartly won 5 races in the US (including the Gr2 Chinese Cultural Centre Stakes over 11 furlongs on turf).