The Blood-Horse reports that the former Blue Gum Farm stallion Churchill Downs and former Emirates Park stallion Eavesdropper (USA) were among six in-foal mares and six stallions stolen in an attack by armed militia at Al Shaab Stud in Libya on January 5.
According to the report everything from veterinary devices and equipment to furniture, generators, jars, and water pumps were looted.
The farm's general manager and equine veterinarian, Dr. Amad Eshaab announced the crime on Twitter on Sunday.
"I am so sad and my heart is broken. … It is my life's work, for my country and countrymen, I preserve the national heritage, and now this terrible assault. It is too cruel," Eshaab's post read.
"Six o'clock yesterday an armed group came from the Tarhuna city, militia loyal to Haftar. They stole six in-foal (mares) that are about to give birth this January or February," he told BloodHorse. "Then they entered the stallion (barn) and stole six stallions. They continued to steal from six in the evening until eight in the morning.
"They shot two horses (who) were wounded in the legs … no one could provide the ambulance to help the horse with euthanasia," he said.
"We appeal to all humanitarian organizations and all horse organizations to save the horses of Libya."
A stakes-winning son of Kingmambo and a half-brother to AP Indy, Eavesdropper spent six seasons at stud in Australia before being exported to Libya in July 2015, while the Golden Slipper placegetter Churchill Downs stood five seasons, leaving the stakes-winners Churchill Dancer, Girl Guide and Gold Fields before his export to Libya in May 2012.
Other stallions affected according to the Paulick Report included Brut Force, a Giant's Causeway horse who raced in New Zealand and became a top sire in Libya and Backdraft, a son of Testa Rossa
