Norton Grove Stud Resident Pastoral Pursuits Dies
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Photo: Edward Whitaker/Racing Post
Pastoral Pursuits wins the 2004 Park Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse
Pastoral Pursuits, winner of the 2005 Darley July Cup (G1), has died at the age of 20.
The son of Bahamian Bounty was bred by Red House Stud and bought by his trainer Hughie Morrison as a yearling before a lucrative racing career.
A three-time winner at 2, including the Coral Sirenia Stakes (G3) at Kempton, he took listed honors at Newbury the following season before winning Doncaster's GNER Park Stakes (G2). His career highlight came when defeating Avonbridge in the July Cup.
Pastoral Pursuits was subsequently retired to the National Stud, where he stood for 11 seasons before swapping to Ladyswood, Snailwell Stud, and then Norton Grove Stud, where he resided for four seasons.
"It is with great sadness we have to let everyone know that we lost Pastoral Pursuits yesterday," the Yorkshire operation announced Feb. 24. "Sadly, he died after covering a mare due to a rupture in a major vessel in his chest, a symptom of his age … Pastoral Pursuits will be a great loss to us as he was a real character and will be sadly missed."
The third foal out of the winning Most Welcome mare Star and a full brother to group 1 winner Goodricke, Pastoral Pursuits stood the 2021 stud season for a £2,000 fee. He has been responsible for 13 stakes winners, led by the group 1-placed, group 3 stakes winner Ventura Rebel.