Written by Richard Edmunds
Champion racehorse and accomplished Darley USA stallion Bernardini (USA) has died at the age of 18.
He was euthanised at Godolphin’s Jonabell Farm in Kentucky due to complications from laminitis.
“Bernardini was one of a kind,” said Michael Banahan, director of farm operations for Godolphin USA. “From the day he was born, he exuded class. He was that crop’s best foal, best yearling and best racehorse.
"From the day he (Bernardini) was born, he exuded class. He was that crop’s best foal, best yearling and best racehorse." - Michael Banahan
“His brilliance was only surpassed by his wonderful character. He will be sorely missed by all on the farm, but especially by his handler for the past 15 years, Philip Hampton. It was an honour to be a custodian of this Classic-winning stallion whose legacy will live long as a broodmare sire.”
By US Horse of the Year and successful sire A.P. Indy (USA) out of the G1 Starlet S. winner Cara Rafaela (USA) (Quiet American {USA}), Bernardini won six of his eight career starts and more than US$3 million (AU$4,084,410) in stakes.
He was America’s Champion 3-Year-Old colt in 2006, stringing together successive victories in the G1 Preakness S., G2 Jim Dandy S., G1 Travers S. and G1 Jockey Club Cup before ending his career with a second placing in the G2 Breeders’ Cup Classic.
“Bernardini was such a majestic animal,” trainer Tom Albertrani said. “He was very talented, one of the best horses I’ve ever been around. I just feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to train him. He was a star.”
Bernardini soon went on to make a worldwide impact at stud, siring 881 winners worldwide to date including 80 at black-type level.
Bernardini shuttled to Australia between 2008 and 2015, and his 461 runners in Australia and New Zealand have so far included 272 winners – 14 of them at stakes level.
Gallery: Bernardini (USA) and three of his Australian stakes winners
Boban heads that list with victories in the G1 Emirates S., Epsom H., Chipping Norton S., Doomben 10,000 and Memsie S., while Go Indy Go won the G1 Champagne S. at Randwick and Ruud Awakening captured New Zealand’s G1 Diamond S. and R. Listed Karaka Million 2YO.
Bernardini is now making an impact as a broodmare sire, where he has had 497 winners from 808 runners to date. There have been 54 individual stakes winners, 11 of them at Group or Grade 1 level including Angel of Truth in the Australian Derby. Banish, Subterranean and Handle the Truth have been his other Australasian stakes winners as a broodmare sire.
“Bernardini was Sheikh Mohammed’s first winner of a Triple Crown race – and a homebred one, too – and then a leading sire,” Godolphin USA President Jimmy Bell said. “We have been blessed to have him. A beautiful horse, and a lovely character, we are lucky to have so many of his daughters on the farm to continue his legacy.”
