Ray Knight says Blues Traveller is now certain to sire this year's New Zealand Derby winner.
The high profile shuttle stallion died in quarantine in England on Monday on his way to New Zealand to serve a full book of 80 mares on his his fifth year's service.
"How's that for bad luck," said an exasperated Knight, trying to put a brave face on one of the worst downturns of a breeding industry currently riding high.
The oldest of Blues Traveller's stock are about to turn three and as predominantly big, scopey types, have suggested they are about to make a real splash as 3-year-olds.
"The shame is that the suggestion is there the horse was on the verge of doing something special. Only time will tell if that's true, but there are plenty of his horses showing real potential."
Knight said the tremendous response to his other stallions Kingfisher Mill and Shinto King and the ability of that pair to take up some of the mares left stranded by the death said helps avert what would have been a disasterous stituation.
Blues Traveller is said to have died after an adverse reaction to a routine vitamin injection.
Horse Racing: Shock death of Travelling stallion
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.