by Brett Coffey

North Wagga, NSW, Australia — It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Armbro Operative.

Standing this season at Yirribee Pacing Stud, Armbro Operative tragically broke his leg overnight and had to be humanely put down this morning.

Born in 1993, Armbro Operative carved a racing and siring career that few have achieved.

After winning three of his ten starts as a 2-year-old, Armbro Operative took his game to another level as a 3- and 4-year-old. His major wins in those two years included the Little Brown Jug, the 3-year-old Breeders Crown final, the Open Breeders Crown final, the Driscoll final and the Progress Pace.

In a testament to his ability, he is still the only horse to win the Little Brown Jug and two Breeders Crown finals.

Arriving in Australia in the spring of 1997, the success Armbro Operative achieved on the racetrack continued into the breeding shed.
Siring more than 1,100 winners and 100 A$100,000 winners in the Southern Hemisphere, he was twice Australia’s Leading stallion and twice Australia’s leading juvenile stallion.

His best performers included Fleur De Lil 1:51.2-A$1,041,636, Awesome Armbro 1:49.4-A$911,397, Yada Yada Yada 1:51.3-A$730,928 and Montecito 1:49.2-A$527,569.

A noted sire of females, Armbro Operative sired an incredible seven individual Oaks winners.