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Champion sire Encosta De Lago has died aged 25 at Coolmore Stud in the NSW Hunter Valley.

The son of Fairy King was one of the most influential sires of the past 20 years in Australia, siring 114 stakes winners of over 250 stakes wins.

He sired 26 G1 winners worldwide and his progeny have amassed in excess of $180 million in prize money.

His death came on the heels of the retirement of one of his most notable sons Chautauqua, a six-time G1 winner.

Other champion performers by the stallion have included Alinghi, English, Racing To Win, Manhattan Rain, Northern Meteor and Sacred Kingdom.

Encosta De Lago was also a champion Australian broodmare sire for the past three seasons with his daughters being the dams of the G1 winners Happy Clapper (Teofilo) and Impending (Lonhro).

Coolmore Australia principal Tom Magnier said: “He was a horse with a beautiful nature and we were incredibly lucky to have him.

His legacy will live on through his sire line descendents like Zoustar and Rubick, as well as through his daughters who have already made him champion broodmare sire.”

During his own racing career Encosta De Lago won the G1 Vic Health Cup, G2 Ascot Vale Stakes and G2 Bill Stutt Stakes.

He started his stud career in 1997 at Blue Gum Farm in Victoria and six years later was acquired by Coolmore Australia where he stood until his retirement from active duty 2014.

He was crowned Australia's Champion Sire in 2007-08 and 2008-09 and also claimed champion sire status in Hong Kong in 2011-12.

He built a reputation as a sires of sires, his sons including Northern Meteor, Manhattan Rain, Rubick, Needs Further and Von Costa de Hero.

Northern Meteor, who died after serving only four seasons at stud, has been his most influential son producing current stallions Zoustar, Eurozone, Fighting Sun, Deep Field and Shooting To Win.