Trippi (End Sweep–Jealous Appeal, by Valid Appeal), a Grade I-winning sprinter in America who became one of the most influential stallions in South Africa for Gaynor Rupert's Drakenstein Stud, has passed away aged 29.A product of the Florida breeding operation of Harry T. Mangurian, Jr., Trippi was purchased by the late Cot Campbell's Dogwood Stable syndicate for $65,000 at the 1999 Keeneland Sale of 2-Year-Olds In Training and was turned over to future Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.Winner of his first four career starts, including the Grade III Swale Stakes over seven furlongs and the Grade III Flamingo Stakes over a distance of ground, Trippi fought out the early fractions in the 2000 Grade I Kentucky Derby, but tired to finish in midfield. Restricted to one-turn races thereafter, Trippi was back to his best in the Grade II Riva Ridge Stakes against his peers and in the Grade II True North Stakes facing older sprinters and two starts later defeated stablemate More Than Ready for his elite-level success in the Vosburgh Stakes.Trippi entered stud in 2002 at the O'Farrell family's Ocala Stud in Central Florida, where he was among the leading regional stallions. His 32 stakes winners from those seven Florida-sired crops included the Grade I-winning juvenile filly R Heat Lightning as well as Miss Macy Sue, victorious at Grade III level at the races whose legacy as a broodmare is secured as the dam of the current leading American stallions Liam's Map (Unbridled's Song) and Not This Time (Giant's Causeway).After founding Drakenstein Stud in 2003, Gaynor Rupert visited the U.S. to have a look at 28 potential stallions and described Trippi as “the most beautiful horse she had ever seen.” The first stallion acquired by the fledgling operation, the bay came to South Africa following the 2008 Northern Hemisphere breeding season and has since gone on to become the foundation sire for one of the country's most important nurseries.Drakenstein Stud photoTrippi imparted speed, precocity and, often times, the ability to carry that speed over extended distances, becoming South Africa's champion sire in 2015/2016. He is the sire of 94 worldwide stakes winners, 47 at the graded/group level, and is responsible for a towering 13 elite-level scorers in South Africa.Two of his champion sons are currently part of the Drakenstein roster. Charles Dickens (SAf) counted the prestigious GI King's Plate and GI Cape Guineas among his 10 career victories, while Jet Dark (SAf) collected no fewer than five Group I successes, topped by a pair of wins in the Queen's Plate, the Met and a pair of scores in the GI Champions Cup. All totaled, Trippi has been represented by 857 winners worldwide.Trippi's influence as a broodmare sire is also not to be understated, as his daughters have produced 66 black-type winners, 32 of those at the graded and group level and eight in Grade/Group I company in addition to Liam's Map.According to a press release from the farm, Trippi's importance was inseparable from the development of Drakenstein itself. He arrived before the farm had an established stallion roster and supplied it with an identity: an internationally proven horse whose results justified the decision to bring him to the Cape. Many of his best South African horses were bred or raced by Drakenstein, among them Charles Dickens, Inara (SAf), Winchester Mansion (SAf), and Trip Of Fortune (SAf), making his story inextricably bound to the farm's own. Trippi's final crop are 3-year-olds of this season in South Africa.According to the release, Trippi was expertly cared for by his long-time stallion handler Schedrick Oerson, whose favourite moments with Trippi were their daily walks on the farm in the mornings, just the two of them, like old friends. Schedrick shared that it was a privilege and an honour to work with him.The post Former US Grade I Winner, Drakenstein Stud Foundation Sire Trippi, Passes Away appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.