Group One sire Reliable Man dies aged 18 after melanoma surgery

Reliable Man, the grey Group One winner turned stallion resident at Westbury Stud’s Karaka property, has died after complications from surgery to remove melanomas, Westbury Stud general manager Russell Warwick confirmed. Warwick said surgery on Monday “went really well but then he had some post‑surgery complications, sort of 48 hours later and he was going downhill at a rapid rate. We didn’t want him to suffer, and you do the right thing by the horse.” Breeder Carina Klingberg Hanson also confirmed the death.

Warwick explained the medical issue that prompted the operation, saying: “Being a grey horse, he was starting to suffer from melanomas, and he had quite a significant one under his tail.” Gestüt Rottgen’s Frank Dorff, quoted via European outlets, added: “This morning we received the sad news from New Zealand about the death of the stallion Reliable Man. He had to be operated on, unfortunately he had to be euthanized as a result of complications after the operation.”

On the track Reliable Man compiled a 14: 5‑1‑2 record and earned £1,216,758, headline wins including the 2011 Prix du Jockey Club and the Prix Niel. Sent to Australia in 2013, he won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick by two and a half lengths over Dundeel and Happy Trails but “broke down with 50m to go in that race and still ran a very quick time,” Warwick said, noting the injury ended his racing career.

As a stallion Reliable Man built a substantial Southern Hemisphere profile. He began shuttling in 2013 and was resident at Westbury Stud from 2015, remaining permanently in New Zealand after the 2022 Northern Hemisphere season. Stud records reported across outlets list 29 stakes winners sired, with TDN noting those include 20 group scorers; Racingnews highlighted four Group One winners in his crop, Miami Bound (G1 VRC Oaks), Miss Sentimental / Sentimental Miss (G1 New Zealand Oaks), Erle (G1 Preis der Diana) and Inspirational Girl (G1 Railway Stakes). Warwick assessed his influence at stud: “He’s done exceptionally well at stud. Some would say his fillies have been slightly better than his colts.”

Reliable Man’s bloodlines trace to Dalakhani as sire and On Fair Stage as dam. Wikipedia’s pedigree notes that On Fair Stage was a daughter of Fair Salinia and a descendant of the broodmare Judy O'Grady, linking Reliable Man to thoroughbred family 16‑c that produced Green Dancer, Solemia, Authorized, Dream Well and Makfi. Breeding attribution varies in reports: Racingnews names Sven and Carina Hanson as breeders and supporters, while the studbook listing used in other accounts records N P Bloodstock Ltd as breeder.

There is a discrepancy in reported age and date details across outlets. Several New Zealand and Australian reports described Reliable Man as “aged 18,” while registry dates cited in other records list foaling as 27 March 2008 and a death date of 19 February 2026, which would make him 17 at death. Westbury Stud and studbook confirmation of foal and death dates will resolve the difference.

Reliable Man’s death removes a proven Group One source from Westbury’s stallion roster and will be felt by broodmare owners and breeders who relied on his 29 stakes winners and international bloodlines. Share your memories or photos of Reliable Man below and tell us which of his progeny you think carried his best traits.