Fort Wood (USA)
May 5, 1990 – January 24, 2015
Sadler's Wells (USA) x Fall Aspen (USA), by Pretense (USA)
Family 4-m
May 5, 1990 – January 24, 2015
Sadler's Wells (USA) x Fall Aspen (USA), by Pretense (USA)
Family 4-m
One of four Grade or Group 1 winners produced by the remarkable broodmare Fall Aspen, Fort Wood was at his best at about 10 furlongs. That proclivity did not fit him well for the top end of the European market, which prefers milers or horses that genuinely stay 1½ miles while displaying a turn of foot. Sent to South Africa instead of a European stud, Fort Wood became a champion sire in his adopted country and helped establish the reputation of his sire Sadlers' Wells as an international sire of sires.
Race record
6 starts, 3 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds, US$322,124 (converted from French earnings)
1993:
Assessments
Earned a Timeform rating of 117 pounds as a 3-year-old, distinctly subpar for a Group 1 winner.
As an individual
An attractive, well balanced bay horse with a good shoulder and hip, Fort Wood had a good topline and strong hindquarters. He did not appear to stay 2400 meters but was game and determined as far as he went. He suffered a fractured sesamoid after finishing out of the money in his final two starts, ending his racing career.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Fort Wood sired 616 winners (60.0%) and 78 stakes winners (7.6%) from 1027 named foals of racing age. He did particularly well with mares sired by Al Mufti and Northern Guest.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (https://www.arion.co.nz/Home.aspx):
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
Athina (SAF), Celtic Grove (SAF), Dog Wood (SAF), Dynasty (SAF), Elusive Fort (SAF), Forest Path (SAF), Fort Defiance (SAF), Heir Apparent (SAF), Horse Chestnut (SAF), Hunting Tower (SAF), Kimberley Mine (SAF), Shadow Dancing (SAF), Thundering Star (SAF), Urabamba (SAF), Wendywood (SAF)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Fort Wood was bred by Hullin Co. N. V. and was owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum. He was trained by Andre Fabre. Following his racing career, Fort Wood was sold to Bridget D. Oppenheimer. He entered stud at Oppenheimer's Mauritzfontain Stud in South Africa in 1994 and stood there throughout his stud career. He died of heart failure in January 2015.
Pedigree notes
Fort Wood is inbred 5x4x5 to 1933 English dual Classic winner and six-time English/Irish champion sire Hyperion. He is one of nine stakes winners produced by the remarkable matron Fall Aspen, the 1994 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. Among those stakes winners are Northern Aspen (by Northern Dancer), winner of the 1987 Gamely Handicap (USA-G1); 1993 July Cup (ENG-G1) winner Hamas (by Danzig); and 1994 American champion 2-year-old male Timber Country (by Woodman).
Fort Wood is a full brother to Dance of Leaves (by Sadler's Wells), dam of 1996 Racing Post Trophy (ENG-G1) winner Medaaly (by Highest Honor) and English highweight Charnwood Forest (by Warning). He is also a half brother to French Group 2 winner Colorado Dancer (by Shareef Dancer), dam of 2000 UAE Horse of the Year Dubai Millennium (by Seeking the Gold); to French Group 2 winner Elle Seule (by Exclusive Native), dam of Irish One Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1) winner Mehthaaf (by Nureyev) and 1998 Darley July Cup (ENG-G1) winner Elnadim (by Danzig) and second dam of multiple French Group 1 winner Occupandiste (by Kaldoun); and to Sheroog (by Shareef Dancer), second dam of multiple South African Group 1 winner Europa Point.
Herself the winner of the 1978 Matron Stakes (USA-G1), Fall Aspen is a half sister to the top Maryland sire Allen's Prospect (by Mr. Prospector) and to stakes-placed Paintbrush (by Bold Hour), second dam of Grade 2 winner She's Tops. Fall Aspen is also a half sister to Brackish (by Alleged), dam of stakes winners Valses Pour Moi (by Gate Dancer), Merzouk (by Theatrical), and Pacific West (by Gone West), and to River Crossing (by Affirmed), second dam of 2009 Thousand Guineas Stakes (AUS-G1) winner Irish Lights, Grade 2 winner Shadowbdancing and New Zealand Group 2 winner Italia. In addition, Fall Aspen is a half sister to Sweet Cielo (by Conquistador Cielo), dam of multiple Japanese stakes winner Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi (by Symboli Rudolf), and to Existentialist (by Relaunch), dam of listed stakes winner Youbetterbelieve it (by Kris S.).
Change Water (by Swaps), the dam of Fall Aspen and her siblings, is a winning half sister to stakes winners Rainy Lake (by Royal Charger), Pack Trip (by My Babu), Black Mountain (by Tudor Minstrel) and Wyoming Wildcat (by Gallant Man). Produced from the War Admiral mare Carillon, she is also a half sister to Blue Canoe (by Jet Pilot), dam of 1967 Adirondack Stakes winner Wildwook (by Sir Gaylord) and stakes winner Blue Tepee (by Sir Ivor) and the second dam of Grade 2 winner and successful Argentine sire Laramie Trail (by Swaps) and the important broodmare Ride the Trails (by Prince John).
Fun facts
Last updated: July 3, 2024
Race record
6 starts, 3 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds, US$322,124 (converted from French earnings)
1993:
- Won Grand Prix de Paris (FR-G1, 2000mT, Longchamp; new course record 2:01.60)
- Won Prix Noialles (FR-G2, 2200mT, Longchamp)
Assessments
Earned a Timeform rating of 117 pounds as a 3-year-old, distinctly subpar for a Group 1 winner.
As an individual
An attractive, well balanced bay horse with a good shoulder and hip, Fort Wood had a good topline and strong hindquarters. He did not appear to stay 2400 meters but was game and determined as far as he went. He suffered a fractured sesamoid after finishing out of the money in his final two starts, ending his racing career.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Fort Wood sired 616 winners (60.0%) and 78 stakes winners (7.6%) from 1027 named foals of racing age. He did particularly well with mares sired by Al Mufti and Northern Guest.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (https://www.arion.co.nz/Home.aspx):
- 5th on the South African general sire list in 2008/09; 6th in 2009/10; 7th in 2010/11; 8th in 2011/12; 9th in 2012/13.
- Led the South African broodmare sire list in 2012/13 and 2014/15 through 2016/17; 2nd in 2013/14 and in 2017/18 through 2020/21; 3rd in 2021/22; 5th in 2009/10 and 2010/11; 6th in 2008/09 and 2011/12; 8th in 2023/24.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the South African general sire list in 1998/99; 2nd in 2000/01; 3rd in 2004/05; 4th in 1999/2000; 5th in 2002/03 and 2003/04; 6th in 2001/02
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the South African general sire list in 1998/99.
Notable progeny
Athina (SAF), Celtic Grove (SAF), Dog Wood (SAF), Dynasty (SAF), Elusive Fort (SAF), Forest Path (SAF), Fort Defiance (SAF), Heir Apparent (SAF), Horse Chestnut (SAF), Hunting Tower (SAF), Kimberley Mine (SAF), Shadow Dancing (SAF), Thundering Star (SAF), Urabamba (SAF), Wendywood (SAF)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Fort Wood was bred by Hullin Co. N. V. and was owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum. He was trained by Andre Fabre. Following his racing career, Fort Wood was sold to Bridget D. Oppenheimer. He entered stud at Oppenheimer's Mauritzfontain Stud in South Africa in 1994 and stood there throughout his stud career. He died of heart failure in January 2015.
Pedigree notes
Fort Wood is inbred 5x4x5 to 1933 English dual Classic winner and six-time English/Irish champion sire Hyperion. He is one of nine stakes winners produced by the remarkable matron Fall Aspen, the 1994 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. Among those stakes winners are Northern Aspen (by Northern Dancer), winner of the 1987 Gamely Handicap (USA-G1); 1993 July Cup (ENG-G1) winner Hamas (by Danzig); and 1994 American champion 2-year-old male Timber Country (by Woodman).
Fort Wood is a full brother to Dance of Leaves (by Sadler's Wells), dam of 1996 Racing Post Trophy (ENG-G1) winner Medaaly (by Highest Honor) and English highweight Charnwood Forest (by Warning). He is also a half brother to French Group 2 winner Colorado Dancer (by Shareef Dancer), dam of 2000 UAE Horse of the Year Dubai Millennium (by Seeking the Gold); to French Group 2 winner Elle Seule (by Exclusive Native), dam of Irish One Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1) winner Mehthaaf (by Nureyev) and 1998 Darley July Cup (ENG-G1) winner Elnadim (by Danzig) and second dam of multiple French Group 1 winner Occupandiste (by Kaldoun); and to Sheroog (by Shareef Dancer), second dam of multiple South African Group 1 winner Europa Point.
Herself the winner of the 1978 Matron Stakes (USA-G1), Fall Aspen is a half sister to the top Maryland sire Allen's Prospect (by Mr. Prospector) and to stakes-placed Paintbrush (by Bold Hour), second dam of Grade 2 winner She's Tops. Fall Aspen is also a half sister to Brackish (by Alleged), dam of stakes winners Valses Pour Moi (by Gate Dancer), Merzouk (by Theatrical), and Pacific West (by Gone West), and to River Crossing (by Affirmed), second dam of 2009 Thousand Guineas Stakes (AUS-G1) winner Irish Lights, Grade 2 winner Shadowbdancing and New Zealand Group 2 winner Italia. In addition, Fall Aspen is a half sister to Sweet Cielo (by Conquistador Cielo), dam of multiple Japanese stakes winner Tsurumaru Tsuyoshi (by Symboli Rudolf), and to Existentialist (by Relaunch), dam of listed stakes winner Youbetterbelieve it (by Kris S.).
Change Water (by Swaps), the dam of Fall Aspen and her siblings, is a winning half sister to stakes winners Rainy Lake (by Royal Charger), Pack Trip (by My Babu), Black Mountain (by Tudor Minstrel) and Wyoming Wildcat (by Gallant Man). Produced from the War Admiral mare Carillon, she is also a half sister to Blue Canoe (by Jet Pilot), dam of 1967 Adirondack Stakes winner Wildwook (by Sir Gaylord) and stakes winner Blue Tepee (by Sir Ivor) and the second dam of Grade 2 winner and successful Argentine sire Laramie Trail (by Swaps) and the important broodmare Ride the Trails (by Prince John).
Fun facts
- Fort Wood was a former U.S. Army post that was used as a recruiting station during the Civil War. Its site now serves as the base of the Statue of Liberty. Another Fort Wood, this one located near Chattanooga, Tennessee, was built by the Union Army in 1863. It is now part of the Fort Wood Historic District, an officially designated national historic site.
- Prior to Fort Wood's entry to stud, a state veterinarian who examined him proclaimed that the horse would never cover a mare.
Last updated: July 3, 2024