Arrogate euthanised in Lexington, Kentucky

An extraordinary grey stallion, Arrogate, the Eclipse champion of 2016 who retired as racing's highest earner of all-time, had to be euthanised at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Kentucky.

The cause of death is still a mystery, unless a post-mortem proves otherwise.

The seven -year-old son of Unbridled's Song, was approaching the end of his third season at Juddmonte Stud Farms.

Arrogate's breeding was suspended last week due to an initial suspected sore neck.

SEVERAL TESTS

He subsequently fell to the ground in his stall where staff tried their best level to help. He was transported to Hagyard under the care of Doctors Bob Hunt and Nathan Slovis with Dr. Steve Reed representing the insurance company.

The clinic ran several tests including spinal tap evaluation, x-ray, ultrasound, and, CT scan, but were unable to determine any of Arrogate's issues.

 After four days, and onset of more secondary health concerns, the decision was made to have him humanely put to sleep.

“This is terribly hard on everyone at Juddmonte, most especially on Steve Dotsey and Jorge Chavarria who cared for Arrogate daily. They had an inexplicable rapport with him,” said Juddmonte Group CEO Douglas Erskine Crum.

Bob Baffert purchased Arrogate for Prince Khalid, transforming him into one of the decade's most unbelievable players on track. He went on a seven month binge boxing lucrative features

BRED THREE CROPS

Arrogate has already bred three crops, and some fine young yearlings will be at the sales later this year.

Apparently, he has passed on some of his special qualities on to them. He was one of the stars to topple California Chrome during Santa Anita's Breeders' Cup Classic. In the Pegasus World Cup, he clocked a record 1:46:8/10 seconds, for a $12 million purse, slightly over a mile.

He then proceeded to squash Gun Runner in the Dubai World Cup. It was after that when, inevitably, the sparkle began drooping.

***

Frankie Dettori returned to his most pleasurable lifestyle at Kempton on Tuesday, in the winner's enclosure.

It was a simple maiden on Galsworthy 4-5, but to Frankie it meant everything.

Trained by John Gosden, Galsworthy cleaned up by four lengths ahead of a reasonably sparse crowd, but Frankie still obliged with his traditional post-race showmanship.

This is just the beginning. Stradivarius is next, followed by Wichita in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas.

Royal Ascot very soon - what more could a great sportsman wish for? In the 1,000 Guineas next Sunday, Frankie has confirmed he will try with Shimmering and not Raffle Prize.

Pinatubo faces 14 hotties in Saturday's Qipco 2,000 Guineas. Punters will remember Pinatubo as something really special.

He is being partnered by William Buick for Godolphin, alongside Al Suhail (James Doyle), and Military March (Hector Crouch - nothing to do with Peter Crouchy, the footballer)).

Aidan O'Brien has four in the race and, with all of his jockeys remaining in Ireland with potential quarantine restrictions, he has invited Tom Marquand for Royal Dornoch.

Adam Kirby is engaged for New World Tapestry, while Arizona stays under Ryan Moore. Kameko (Oisin Murphy), Mums Tipple, and, Starcat, have also been declared.