'Wonderful servant' and champion jumps sire Milan dies aged 24

Milan, an impressive winner of the 2001 St Leger and the champion National Hunt sire in the 2019-20 season, has died at the age of 24.

The son of Sadler's Wells was responsible for numerous Grade 1 winners, including Champion Hurdle hero Jezki and last season's Cheltenham and Punchestown Mares' Hurdle winner Marie's Rock, and was a top-class performer on the track himself.

“Milan was a very good-natured horse and will be sadly missed by everyone here,” said Catherine Magnier of Coolmore's Grange Stud, where he had stood since 2004 after being retired from racing.

“He was a wonderful servant, providing top-class horses year in, year out.”

He was bred by Fittocks Stud out of the Group 3 winner and Irish St Leger third Kithanga and sported the colours of Michael Tabor, having sold to Demi O'Byrne from Ted Voute for 650,000gns at Tattersalls Houghton in 1999.

Milan won his sole start at two for Aidan O'Brien when pulling three and a half lengths clear in a Curragh maiden.

Marie's Rock: dual Grade 1 winner last seasonCredit: Edward Whitaker

At three, Milan finished second to a certain Galileo in the Listed Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown before a half-length third in the Group 1 Prix Lupin and then a fifth in the Prix du Jockey Club. He was also fourth in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot.

After success in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes, his career highlight came with his dominant victory at Doncaster in the Leger, where he beat Demophilos by five lengths under Mick Kinane.

Following a fifth in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Milan concluded his campaign with a close second to Godolphin's globetrotter Fantastic Light in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Belmont Park.

Milan pulled up injured on his only start at four in a Listed event at the Curragh and was retired to Grange Stud, beginning at a fee of €3,500.

His fee, which reached a peak of €10,000 in 2020, generally increased from 2006 onwards as a result of his progeny's exploits.

The sire of 38 individual Graded winners from 105 individual black-type performers, Milan was responsible for Grade 1-winning chasers such as Monalee and Apache Stronghold, as well as top-flight hurdlers Martello Tower, Darlan and Santini - also a close second in the 2020 Gold Cup to Al Boum Photo - alongside Jezki and Marie's Rock.

Jezki (left): among the top-class talent sired by MilanCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Other top-level winners sired by Milan included Beat That, Sizing Granite, My Drogo and If The Cap Fits.

Further Grade 1 success could be just around the corner as John Francome Novices' Chase winner McFabulous is hot favourite for the Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Milan could also count a Grand National winner among his offspring as One For Arthur took the Aintree event by storm when winning in 2017.

Among the progeny produced by his daughters are Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase winner Coney Island, Grade 1 Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final winner Skyace and Grade 3 bet365 Gold Cup scorer Talkischeap.

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