Group winner The Lion In Winter was euthanised following a training accident at Ballydoyle, The Sun reported on Wednesday evening. The former Derby favourite, set to run in next Tuesday's G1 Queen Anne Stakes, was four.
By Sea The Stars, the Aidan O'Brien trainee was undefeated in two starts as a juvenile, taking the G3 Acomb Stakes. At three, the 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' ran third in the G1 Prix Jean Prat, filled the same spot in the G1 Prix Moulin, went one better in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and turned in a third-place effort in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile. A listed winner this year, The Lion In Winter was fifth in the G1 Lockinge Stakes in May last out, his 12th start.
“Sadly The Lion In Winter suffered a fracture on the gallops and had to be put down,” O'Brien told the publication.
Bred by Sunderland Holdings, the bay was a €375,000 purchase by MV Magnier out of the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale in 2023. He is a son of the G3 Pinnacle Stakes third What A Home (Lope De Vega) from the same family as stakes winner and 2026 Oaks favourite Amelia Earhart (Camelot).
With the passing of The Lion In Winter, a total of 10 horses remain in the Queen Anne, including the Godolphin trio of Notable Speech (Dubawi), Opera Ballo (Ghaiyyath) and First Conquest (Teofilo). Defending champ Docklands (Massaat) is also signed on, as are the second and third from the Lockinge in More Thunder (Night Of Thunder) and Zeus Olympios (Night Of Thunder). G3 Tattenham Corner Stakes hero Ten Bob Tony (Night Of Thunder) will run, as will Expanded (Wootton Bassett), the lone Ballydoyle runner in the one-mile contest. The field is rounded out by Damysus (Frankel) and Cicero's Gift (Muhaarar).
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