Notable Sire Zoffany Euthanized
Image:
Description:
Photo: Courtesy of Coolmore
Zoffany at Coolmore Stud
Zoffany, a group 1 winner on the track, and sire of last season's Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (G1) hero Thunder Moon, has been euthanized at age 13 owing to liver failure.
The son of Dansili—winner of the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (G1) at 2 and a three-quarter length second to the mighty Frankel in the St James's Palace Stakes (G1) at 3—has sired 20 individual group winners and 18 further listed stakes scorers to date.
He was set to stand his 10th consecutive season for Coolmore, whose David O'Loughlin said: "Zoffany was a great servant, and he'll be a big loss."
His first crop, which were conceived at a fee of €7,500 (US$9,720), included no fewer than three Royal Ascot winners in Norfolk Stakes (G2) scorer Waterloo Bridge, Albany Stakes (G3) victress Illuminate, and Windsor Castle Stakes winner Washington DC.
Zoffany has sired three individual top-level winners in Albigna, who struck in the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac-Criterium des Puliches (G1), Gran Premio del Jockey Club (G1) hero Ventura Storm, and last year's Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (G1) winner Thunder Moon, who is prominent in the market for this year's QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (G1).
Zoffany's son Thunder Moon after his win in the National Stakes at The Curragh Racecourse
He had also been responsible for last season's Coolmore Stud Irish E.B.F. Sprint Stakes (G3) winner and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) runner-up Mother Earth, and Marble Hill Stakes (G3) winner Minaun.
A 220,000gns (US$368,307) purchase as a yearling from Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale when consigned by Croom House Stud, Zoffany won five of 13 starts for Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore partners.
He won his first two outings at 2 and subsequently struck in the listed Golden Fleece Stakes and Korean Racing Authority Tyros Stakes (G3) at Leopardstown before his Phoenix Stakes success.
Zoffany did not win at three but gave Frankel the biggest scare of his career at the top-level when running him close in the St James's Palace, while he also filled the runner-up spot in the Prix Jean Prat (G1).
Zoffany stood for a career-high €45,000 in 2016 and was due to stand the upcoming season for €20,000. His 2020 yearlings sold for up to 580,000gns, with a filly bred by James Cloney of Cn Farm bought for that amount by M.V. Magnier from consignors Highclere Stud.