Just weeks after Half Yours delivered a landmark Melbourne Cup win, his sire St Jean has sadly passed away.
The son of Teofilo was euthanised on Tuesday morning after suffering catastrophic injuries in a paddock accident at Brackley Park.
Grant Dwyer, who managed the stallion on behalf of a syndicate, confirmed the devastating news in a detailed statement.
“After covering a mare, Memory Lane, on Monday the 24th of November, St. Jean was returned to be fed in his paddock where he had lived happily and safely since the autumn of 2017,” Dwyer said.
“On the morning of 25th of November it was discovered, that for reasons unknown, St Jean had run into a fence post overnight, breaking it off at ground level and shattering his near-side front leg around the elbow region.
“Dr Duncan Pearce BVSc MVS MVSc attended to the stallion, X-Rays were taken, and we were advised that nothing could be done for the horse. The stallion was then humanely euthanised.”
St Jean’s passing follows the extraordinary achievements of Half Yours, who became the first Victorian-bred Melbourne Cup winner in more than half a century, only 17 days after taking out the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m).
An Irish import, St Jean won six of 19 starts, highlighted by the Group 3 City Of Auckland Cup. His resume at stud had sharply improved in recent seasons thanks to Half Yours’ rise.
This season marked his ninth at Brackley Park, where his fee had recently been increased from $3300 to $11,000.
“His death was very untimely as breeders were only starting to recognise what an incredible pedigree this stallion had,” Dwyer said.
“Bookings had started to pick up and he was due to cover a mare by Desert King that afternoon which would have given the same cross as Half Yours.
“He was due to cover five mares by Desert King this season and had bookings of 35 mares in total.
“I lament the fact that more breeders did not take the opportunity to breed to this stallion in the first few seasons at stud at an incredibly low price, when the opportunity was afforded to them.”
St Jean served only five mares last season and delivered 13 live foals from 21 covers across the previous three seasons. From 67 live foals overall, he has sired 12 winners from 22 runners.
If you’re following the form of Cup-bound runners like Half Yours, check odds at the top Australian betting sites before placing a bet.
