Rumours going round that Montjeu has been put down. Unconfirmed at this stage but hope they are wide of the mark. Would be a massive shame.
Sportinglife are running the story Zen, RIP Montjeu, he has left his mark on racing and hopefully Glestal Abbey wins for him today.
Racing Post also have it: World-class stallion Montjeu dies aged 16 By Racing Post staff 11:49AM 29 MAR 2012 THE bloodstock world has been dealt a devasting blow with the news that Montjeu, Coolmore Stud's second most important stallion after Galileo, has died at the age of 16. The son of Sadler's Wells leaves an outstanding legacy having sired three Derby winnings in Motivator, Authorized, and, last year, Pour Moi. Another of his sons, Camelot, would be a strong contender for this season's Epsom Classic based on his authoritative victory in last season's Racing Post Trophy. Having overcome question marks about his ability to produce high-class fillies, Montjeu's daughter Wading is favourite for this year's Oaks.
Coolmore have confirmed the story: Montjeu (29th March 2012) Montjeu, the highest-rated racehorse ever by the great Sadler’s Wells has died this morning at Coolmore Stud after a short illness which was due to complications from an overwhelming septicaemia. The sire of three Epsom Derby winners including last year’s brilliant winner Pour Moi, as well as Camelot, the favourite for this year’s edition, Montjeu was one of the best stallions in the world and in 2011 he sired 15 individual Group/Graded winners in the northern hemisphere, which was the equal of Galileo. Montjeu will best be remembered for his incredible wins in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes as well as his runaway victories in the French and Irish Derbies.
What a shame about Montjeu. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWGiJ8njuWQ - King George 2000 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE30hM1wCNY - Arc 1999
Zen - im not the most knowledgeable of race followers and cant remember the races youve posted but after watching them i can see why the racing world is sad to lose such a horse... Beauty and grace in the King George and showing true quality in the Arc... A sad loss... Thanks for posting them...
Most notable is that he was the only one to get anywhere near the leader El Condor Pasa, and he got past him with a degree of comfort too.
I'm gutted. One of My favourite ever flat horses. I'll never forget His King George win, Kinane sat motionless passing top horses like they were standing still and stretching away to win on the bridle. It was a wow moment for Me and Kinane declared him the best He'd ever sat on until a certain Sea The Stars came along... He was an outstanding stallion aswell as His record shows, His progeny weren't probably as versatile as the likes of Galileo's are but you'll not find many with as much class as a Montjeu. Terrible loss to racing and the bloodstock world RIP Montjeu
That is a terrible shock; so young. A shame AI isn't allowed in thoroughbreds, as it is in show jumping. Exceptionally well controlled and tested to eliminate the possibility of infection, this is highly practised in show jumping, giving breeders a much wider choice of sires including those sadly no longer with us.
No, we don't want AI. Racing would be ruled by the big breeders, everyone else would suffer and it would be an even more inbred breed.
What a sire. Triple Derby winning sire, St Leger sire, Breeders Cup Turf sire, Champion Hurdle sire...its endless. I never realised just what a sire he was. R.I.P a true flat legend.
Am I right in saying that he has never sired a group 1 winning miler (2-y-o races excluded) ? If so then that's a huge negative to Camelot given how many top horses he has sired. Great horse and a great sire Can you imagine if we had A.I. . You could have horses by Northern Dancer et al. being born now. Would be nuts! I'm definintely anti though, things would get very inbred....
wow, how game was el condor pasa in that arc. RIP Montjue. The word Great is used all to often in sport, and especially horseracing but Montjue truely was.