[2] He helped reverse a trend from the middle of the twentieth century where many of Europe's most successful racehorses were exported to stand in the United States and later Japan.
His owner was part of the original Coolmore partnership team with Tim Vigors and trainer Vincent O'Brien, later joined by John Magnier.
They became active in the North American yearling auctions starting in the mid-1970s, purchasing and part-breeding notable horses like The Minstrel, Alleged, Golden Fleece and El Gran Senor, and creating a high demand for the offspring of Northern Dancer and Nijinsky.
By the early 1980s, they were noted for paying millions of dollars for the right yearling, entering in bidding duels with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai[3][2] In 1976, Sangster, O'Brien and Magnier made one of their most important purchases for only $40,000 ($210,000 inflation adjusted)—a yearling filly by the little-known stallion Bold Reason.
[4] Fairy Bridge was closely related to a number of outstanding horses previously trained by O'Brien, including Thatch, Marinsky, Lisadell and Apalachee.
Throughout his racing career, Sadler's Wells had a characteristic running style, galloping with his head at an unusually high angle.
Ridden by Pat Eddery, the colt started the 1/2 favourite in a field of sixteen runners and won by six lengths from Cyrano.
[12] Sadler's Wells met El Gran Senor on the racecourse for the only time when he finished second to him in the seven-furlong Gladness Stakes at the Curragh.
Frank McNulty, head of BBA Ireland, later commented: "I remember seeing him at the Gladness Stakes—when he walked into the ring I thought he looked absolutely magnificent, even though he was only the second string.
"[13] Sadler's Wells next won the ten-furlong Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial and was then brought back in distance for the Irish 2,000 Guineas over one mile, where he was ridden by George McGrath.
[9] Instead of going for the one-mile St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, the colt was moved up in distance for the French Derby, a race O'Brien had won the previous year with Caerleon.
Sadler's Wells took the lead in the straight but was overtaken in the closing stages and beaten one and a half lengths by Darshaan, with Rainbow Quest in third.
[citation needed] Later that month, Sadler's Wells ran a strong second to Teenoso in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
"[11] In 1990, his daughter Salsabil won the 1000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks and Irish Derby, which helped propel Sadler's Wells to his first champion sire title.
[25] c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding, Sadler's Wells was also a highly successful broodmare sire, leading that category in Great Britain and Ireland from 2005 to 2010, and the United States from 2008 to 2010.
He is the maternal grandsire of such notable horses as Workforce (Epsom Derby, Arc de Triomphe),[28] Sakhee (Arc de Triomphe), Henrythenavigator (2000 Guineas), Taghrooda (Epsom Oaks), Peeping Fawn (Champion Filly), and Conduit (St Leger).
[29] In November 2007, a Sadler's Wells daughter, Playful Act, out of the mare Magnificient Style, was sold at the Keeneland breeding stock sale for a world-record price of US$10.5 million.
[40][41] Breeding industry expert Andrew Caulfield stated: "Superlatives are greatly overused in the world of sport, but no-one could begrudge their being used about Sadler's Wells, with his phenomenal record of 14 sires' championships in the space of 15 years.
Northern Dancer's other important offspring included Derby winners The Minstrel and Secreto and the brilliant El Gran Senor and Nureyev.
[6] Sadler's Wells was out of Fairy Bridge, who was sold as a yearling in 1976 at the Keeneland Sales to Sangster for $40,000 and became the Irish champion two-year-old filly of 1977.
[43] Fairy Bridge was the second foal of the mare Special, a full sister to European champion sprinter/miler Thatch and Lisadell, who won the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, and a half-sister to Grade 1 winner, King Pellinore, and the brilliant but ill-fated Marinsky, who finished first in the 1977 July Cup at Newmarket.