By Bren O'Brien
Tributes have flowed for four-time Group 1 winner Roaring Lion (USA) (Kitten's Joy {USA}) after he succumbed to a further bout of colic early on Saturday morning.
Roaring Lion had endured significant surgery following a colic attack on his arrival at Cambridge Stud late last month, and while he had made steady progress over recent weeks, a recurrence of the condition left no choice but for vets but to put him down.
It was a heartbreaking turn of events for all involved, with the European Horse Of The Year set to serve his first book of mares at the iconic Cambridge Stud this season having started his breeding career earlier this year at Tweenhills Stud.
“At approximately midday (GMT) / 23.00 NZ today Roaring Lion was observed to be uncomfortable in his stable at Cambridge Stud. On examination by stud vet Rob Hitchcock, Roaring Lion was admitted to Cambridge Equine hospital," a statement from David Redvers, Qatar Racing's Racing Manager and Tweenhills owner, read.
“There operating surgeons Dr Alanna Zantingh and Dr Greg Quinn performed ultrasound examination and at 14.45 (GMT) the decision was made on welfare grounds to put Roaring Lion to sleep.”
"Sheikh Fahad and all the team at Qatar Racing, Tweenhills, Cambridge Stud and Clarehaven Stables have lost a true champion who fought and fought and fought."
Sheikh Fahad and Roaring Lion
Sheikh Fahad Al-Thani took to Twitter to pay his own personal tribute to the champion.
"I am obviously distraught about Roaring Lion, he was so brave right to the end. He was a horse of a lifetime in all his characteristics I would like to thank everyone at the Cambridge Equine hospital and Cambridge Stud for all their efforts and professionalism to the end. RIP."
"I am obviously distraught about Roaring Lion, he was so brave right to the end." - Sheikh Fahad
Cambridge Stud also issued a statement after what has been a very difficult month for it ahead of the upcoming breeding season.
"Cambridge Stud would like to acknowledge everyone from Cambridge Equine and the stud who supported the horse through a very difficult time. We particularly feel for Roaring Lion’s connections, Sheikh Fahad Al-Thani and his family and David Redvers and his family at Tweenhills. Our loss is keenly felt in New Zealand but theirs is unimaginable," the statement said.
Roaring Lion's four Group 1 victories came in consecutive runs in his amazing 3-year-old season
Trained by John Gosden, Roaring Lion's four Group 1 victories came in consecutive runs in his amazing 3-year-old season as he won the Queen Elizabeth II S., Juddmonte International S., Coral Eclipse S. and the QIPCO Irish Champion S.
He won the G2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge S. as a 2-year-old and followed that up with victory in the G2 Dante S. early in the next season.
In a 13-start career which featured eight wins, he was also third in the 2018 G1 Investec Derby and second in the G1 Racing Post Trophy S. His total earnings were US$3,575,197 (approx AUD$5.3 million).
He was purchased for US$160,000 by Redvers at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He was out of the G1-placed Street Sense (USA) mare Vionnet (USA), who was a half-sister to stakes-winners Moulin de Mougin (USA) (Curlin {USA}), Schiaparelli (USA) (Ghostzapper {USA}), Alexis Tangier (USA) (Tiznow {USA}) and Bronson (USA) (Medaglia d’Oro {USA}). Their dam, Cambiocorsa (USA) (Avenue Of Flags {USA}) was a multiple stakes-winner.
