MONTJEU, the outstanding middle distance racehorse who as a sire produced three Derby winners, has died aged 16 after a short illness, Coolmore Stud announced on Thursday.
Coolmore said the stallion, whose offspring include Epsom heroes Motivator (2005), Authorized (2007) and Pour Moi (2011), had suffered complications from an overwhelming septicaemia.
A statement from Coolmore on Thursday read: "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."
On the racecourse Montjeu, who was trained in France by John Hammond for Michael Tabor, won 11 of his 16 starts capturing the Prix du Jockey Club, Irish Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1999 and the following season produced one of the most impressive victories ever seen in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
Mick Kinane, who rode Montjeu in nine of his races, said: "At his best hewas one of the best I've ever ridden. He was definitely in the top five because at his height he was a truly remarkable racehorse.
"The day he won the King George he was imperious. He treated his rivals with pure contempt.
Kinane was not the only jockey to be wowed by Montjeu. After his five-length win in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in 2000, jockey Cash Asmussen said: "The last time I went so fast, I was landing in a Concorde at New York!"
Montjeu went on to establish himself among the world's best stallions siring the likes of Hurricane Run, winner of the Irish Derby, Arcand King George.
Last year Fame And Glory (Ascot Gold Cup), St Nicholas Abbey (Breeders' Cup Turf) and Masked Marvel (St Leger) added to that haul, while Montjeu made his presence on jump racing as the sire of Champion Hurdle winner Hurricane Fly.
Having overcome question marks about his ability to produce high-class fillies, Montjeu's daughter Wading is favourite for this year's Investec Oaks.
I saw him in the Arc and at john Hammond's yard in his pomp. A great great horse. And good looking enough to win a show class.
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I am good, I will give you that much.
But I could be great.
I thougt when he went to stud he would be a sire of 3 mile chasers beceause he was loaded with stanima. It goes to show you that John Magnier does actually know more than me about the stud business.
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I am good, I will give you that much.
But I could be great.
this was simply unbelievable, I doubt it will ever be surpassed
I didn't what to expose my ignorance in showing that I don't know how to embed (innit) a YouTube clip.
I think that is THE most impressive demolition job ever. Kinnane was the very definition of motionless coming down the stretch in that race. but have a look at Reid and Murtagh flapping away like crazy behind him.
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I am good, I will give you that much.
But I could be great.
Montjeu's gone!!!!
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