Daredevil, one of the most important stallions introduced to international breeding by the Jockey Club of Türkiye, passed away on Thursday, 10 September 2026.

With a journey that took him from Türkiye to America and then back home, history-making progeny on the international stage and a successful crop in Türkiye, Daredevil became far more than just a stallion. He represented one of Turkish breeding’s most significant international ventures.

One of More Than Ready’s fastest two-year-olds

Foaled on 15 February 2012, Daredevil was by More Than Ready, himself a G1 winner and the sire of numerous top-level performers. His dam, Chasethewildwind, was a three-time-winning daughter of champion racehorse Forty Niner.

Daredevil made a winning racecourse debut at Belmont Park on 13 September 2014. He returned to the same venue on 4 October and captured the G1 Champagne Stakes, extending his unbeaten record to two wins from two starts.

The 107 Beyer Speed Figure he earned in that race was the highest recorded in the Champagne Stakes during the preceding 20 years and established him as one of the fastest two-year-olds sired by More Than Ready.

At three, Daredevil finished runner-up in the G2 Fasig-Tipton Swale Stakes before taking fourth place in the G1 Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct. He completed his racing career with two wins, one second and one fourth from five starts.

Despite his relatively brief career on the racecourse, the natural speed he displayed made him one of the breeding industry’s most exciting young stallion prospects.

27 November 2019: The journey to Türkiye

While standing at WinStar Farm, Daredevil was acquired by the Jockey Club of Türkiye alongside Super Saver on 27 November 2019.

Brought to Türkiye at the end of 2019, Daredevil stood the 2020 breeding season at Karacabey Boarding Stud Farm. His covering fee was set at 12,500 Turkish lira, and he covered 125 mares during his first season in the country.

At the time, nobody could have known that two fillies from his first American crop would change the course of international racing history within a matter of months.

Two daughters took him into American Classic history

Shedaresthedevil became Daredevil’s first Classic winner when capturing the G1 Kentucky Oaks in 2020. Her paternal half-sister Swiss Skydiver finished runner-up, giving their sire a memorable one-two finish in America’s most prestigious Classic for three-year-old fillies.

The most unforgettable chapter of the story, however, was written approximately one month later.

Swiss Skydiver defeated her male rivals in the G1 Preakness Stakes, becoming only the sixth filly in the history of the race to win the great American Classic. She was also only the second filly to accomplish the feat since Nellie Morse in 1924 and the first since Rachel Alexandra in 2009.

Having also won the G1 Alabama Stakes during the same season, Swiss Skydiver was crowned America’s Champion Three-Year-Old Filly of 2020.

These achievements made Daredevil the first stallion in history whose first crop included two individual progeny who won the Kentucky Oaks and the Preakness Stakes in the same year. Lane’s End placed particular emphasis on this unique achievement when announcing the stallion’s return to America.

Shedaresthedevil continued to win major races in subsequent seasons, including the G1 La Troienne Stakes and the G1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes. Haengbok Wangja, who raced in South Korea, was named Horse of the Year, Champion Stayer and Champion Older Horse in 2021.

While Daredevil was standing in Türkiye, the stars of his first crop were carrying their sire’s name to the highest level of international racing in America.

He returned to America—but remained a TJK-owned stallion

The outstanding achievements of Daredevil’s first crop led to intense demand from American breeders. It was consequently decided that the successful stallion would return to America for the 2021 breeding season. He remained the property of the Jockey Club of Türkiye and was sent to the world-renowned Lane’s End Farm in Kentucky to stand on the Club’s behalf.

Daredevil departed Türkiye on Friday, 4 December 2020, becoming the first stallion to be sent from the country to America specifically for stud duty and earning a unique place in Turkish racing and breeding history.

He stood at Lane’s End for a covering fee of $25,000 in both 2021 and 2022, $20,000 in 2023 and $15,000 in 2024.

A brush with death at Lane’s End

Daredevil’s second spell in America was not defined solely by success and the strong demand he received from breeders.

According to information obtained by Yarış Dergisi, the champion stallion suffered a serious health problem during his time at Lane’s End and, at one stage, came perilously close to losing his life. No detailed public statement was issued concerning the exact nature of his condition or the treatment he received.

Daredevil nevertheless overcame this serious challenge, recovered and resumed his stud duties. His ability to continue serving mares for several more years following such a severe health scare became one of the most important battles in his remarkable story.

Impressive results from his sole Turkish crop

Daredevil’s sole Turkish-bred crop to have reached the racecourse, conceived during his 2020 breeding season in the country, produced striking results despite his having covered only a limited number of high-quality mares.

As of 31 October 2024, 39 of his 64 runners in Türkiye had won at least one race, giving him a winners-to-runners ratio of more than 60 per cent. The same crop also produced seven black-type performers.

Leading his Turkish representatives was Look At The Star, a KV-7 winner who finished runner-up in the G1 Turkish Oaks.

Dual KV-8 winner King Devil also ranked among his most successful runners in Türkiye, alongside Fit As A Fiddle and Collecter, both of whom recorded victories at KV level. Matt Murdock, Nox Atra, Rally and Demsey were among the other notable members of the crop following their performances in important races.

A particularly remarkable demonstration of Daredevil’s influence came at Kocaeli on 22 August 2024. Four of his progeny filled the first four places in the same race, with Winner Devil finishing first, Devil Storm second, Magic Runner third and Lifeguard fourth.

His return was awaited for years

The possibility of Daredevil returning to Türkiye was raised on several occasions from 2022 onwards. However, his increased value in America and the insurance arrangements associated with it contributed to repeated delays.

Daredevil remained at Lane’s End for the 2023 and 2024 breeding seasons before the long-awaited decision was finally made towards the end of 2024.

After four breeding seasons in America, the champion stallion landed at Istanbul Airport on the evening of Friday, 6 December 2024. He was subsequently transported to the İzmit Covering Station.

Yarış Dergisi announced his return that day with a headline that summarised his story:

“He did not arrive as a newcomer—he came home…”

By then, he was no longer simply a foreign stallion arriving in Türkiye for the first time. He was a champion who had been sent from Türkiye to America, represented the country on the international breeding stage and returned home four years later.

His final public appearance caused concern

Daredevil was presented to breeders during the Stallion Presentation Day held at the İzmit Covering Station on 21 December 2025.

Some observers felt that he appeared less bright and vigorous than in previous years, and the footage caused concern among those who had followed the champion stallion closely.

It must be emphasised that this was merely an impression based on the available footage. No definitive diagnosis or detailed veterinary report concerning his condition was released to the public.

Following the sad news several months later, those images have inevitably taken on a far more poignant significance.

He leaves behind far more than statistics

Daredevil’s story extended far beyond the races won by his progeny and the foals he produced.

He began his stallion career at WinStar Farm. He was acquired by the Jockey Club of Türkiye on 27 November 2019 and stood for a single breeding season in the country. Two daughters from his first American crop then won the Kentucky Oaks and the Preakness Stakes in the same year, securing his place in racing history.

His rapidly rising value took him back to America, where he stood at Lane’s End for four seasons on behalf of the Jockey Club of Türkiye. He emerged victorious from a serious battle with illness, produced a Turkish crop with an outstanding winners-to-runners ratio and was represented by successful runners in major races. Four years after leaving Türkiye, he finally returned home—and it was here that he drew his final breath.

Throughout an 11-year stud career spanning two continents, Daredevil left an indelible mark through his history-making daughters, his successful Turkish-bred progeny and the unique role he played in representing Turkish Thoroughbred breeding on the international stage.

Farewell, champion…

Rest in peace, Daredevil…