Westerner 1999 - 2025
Castlehyde’s leading national hunt sire and the champion stayer of his generation, Westerner has passed away only days shy of his 26th birthday.
A Wildenstein Family homebred, Westerner scored five times at the highest level including an Ascot Gold Cup success at the Royal Meeting’s York renewal in 2005.
Westerner’s career was marked by both class and consistency. In 28 racecourse appearances for trainer Ellie Lellouche, he won 11 races and placed on another 11 occasions.
Retiring to Castlehyde Stud in Fermoy to take up stud duties in 2007, Westerner soon established himself as one of Ireland’s top national hunt sires and was responsible for the likes of Cheltenham Festival Grade 1 winners Cole Harden, Western Warhorse and Ferny Hollow.
“Westerner was always a pleasure to deal with and was an old favourite of the breeders too,” said Castlehyde’s Cathal Murphy. “He got you a lovely sort of horse with a good attitude that jumped well. He has been a wonderful servant for us over the years producing so many top-class horses and will be greatly missed by all the team here in Castlehyde.”