Kentucky Derby champion loses his libido (Reuters)

TOKYO (Reuters) - The Japanese owners of former KentuckyDerby winner War Emblem are struggling to explain why theAmerican thoroughbred has lost his libido.

Even a private harem and a limitless supply of Viagra havefailed to pep up the love life of a stallion his handlersfreely admit has some personal issues.

"We've tried everything," Nobuo Tsunoda, director of theprestigious Shadai Stallion Station on Japan's northern islandof Hokkaido, told Reuters.

"You name it we've tried it. We had him on Viagra -- thatdidn't work. I even went into (Sapporo's) red light districtwith 300,000 yen in cash and brought back a lot of 'special'medicine to try and perk him up.

"It's very odd. He's not impotent. He's just very choosyabout his women. He's more human than animal. Basically he's abit of a weirdo."

War Emblem won the 2002 Kentucky Derby but has had problemsin the breeding shed since being sold to the prominent Yoshidaracing family for around $17 million (8.6 million pounds) laterthat year.

The 2008 race takes place on Saturday and its winner canexpect big fees when he goes to stud. War Emblem has been adisappointment, however.

"He's been in contact with hundreds of mares but hassuccessfully mated with a only a tiny percentage," saidTsunoda. "We have him on male hormone injections to see it thatwill help."

"It's not normal," continued Tsunoda. "A normal stud wouldclimb onto any mare he sees but not him. He's just doesn't seemto like sex anymore -- which is odd."

(Editing by Clare Lovell)