Celebrated sire and grandsire Desert Sun dies Tue, 26 Jun 2012

Desert Sun, who earned lasting breeding industry respect as the sire of 13-time Group One winner Sunline, has died.

An Eliza Park statement said the 23-year-old stallion, who is also the damsire of Black Caviar, died at the stud's Nagambie property in Victoria.

A modest racetrack performer, Desert Sun started his racing career in the United Kingdom before finding his way to the United States' west coast.

But as a sire who retired to former Auckland nursery Ra Ora Stud and stood five seasons in New Zealand, Desert Sun's star was soon on the rise on the back of Sunline's exploits.

A dual Cox Plate winner, Sunline's rule as the queen of Australasian racing propelled her sire into the breeding spotlight when he stood his first Australian season at Eliza Park in 1999. He also shuttled to Ireland from 2000 to 2006.

La Bella Dama and Our Egyptian Raine were also Group One heroines among more than 400 winners for Desert Sun in 17 countries. His progeny have so far won more than A$50 million in stakes.

It has been a decade since Sunline retired, but Desert Sun's influence remains strong through the deeds of unbeaten sprinter Black Caviar. He is the sire of Helsinge, an unraced filly born in 2001 who became the dam of the champion mare.