Cheveley Park Stud stalwart Medicean dies of suspected heart attack aged 21

Medicean, a stalwart of the Cheveley Park Stud stallion roster for 16 years until his retirement last August, has died after suffering a suspected heart attack. The son of Machiavellian was 21.

In a tribute to Medicean, Cheveley Park Stud's managing director Chris Richardson said: "From the day he was born, Medicean was the most wonderfully kind horse, with a spectacular walk.

"His win in the Eclipse was a highlight for owner breeders Mr and Mrs Thompson, being one of their favourite races. His progeny have excelled at the highest level and I'm sure his legacy will be influential for years to come."

Medicean was bred by Cheveley Park out of the Listed-winning Storm Bird mare Mystic Goddess, whose own dam Rose Goddess joined the stud's broodmare band after being bought by David Minton for $450,000 from the Keeneland November Sale in 1988.

Medicean entered training with Sir Michael Stoute and made his debut when third in the Wood Ditton maiden at Newmarket at three. He improved rapidly throughout the season, winning his next two starts before finishing a close third behind Giant's Causeway in the St James's Palace Stakes.

Medicean’s top ten performers on Racing Post Ratings

Horse, damsire, best RPR

Dutch ArtSpectrum 122
Al ShemaliGenerous 121
BankableSadler's Wells 121
Mr MediciPlatini 121
CapponiZilzal 120
NanninaDanehill 119
SiyoumaDanehill 119
Sapphire Danehill 118
MinceDanehill Dancer 116
Panama HatRock Of Gibraltar 116

After an abortive effort as favourite in the John Smith's Cup Handicap, he filled third position behind Giant's Causeway again in the Sussex Stakes and landed the Celebration Mile, before taking fourth in the famous Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in which Observatory took the scalp of Giant's Causeway.

It was at four when Medicean really flourished, notching victories in the Lockinge Stakes, Queen Anne Stakes and Eclipse, and signing off with a third to Sakhee in the Juddmonte International.

Medicean retired to Cheveley Park at a fee of £15,000 for 2002 and experienced mixed results as a stallion, standing for as much as £30,000 in 2007 and 2008 but priced at £6,000 to £8,000 between 2015 and 2017.

He has supplied 45 black-type winners, ten of whom struck at the highest level – Al Shemali (Dubai Duty Free), Almerita (Preis der Diana), Bayrir (Secretariat Stakes), Capponi (Al Maktoum Challenge R3), Chevron (Raffles Cup), Dutch Art (Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes), Mr Medici (Champions and Chater Cup), Nannina (Fillies' Mile and Coronation Stakes), Neatico (Bayerisches Zuchtrennen) and Siyouma (Sun Chariot Stakes and EP Taylor Stakes).

Other notable runners by Medicean include Bankable, Manieree, Medicean Man, Mince, Panama Hat and Sapphire, while his Flat-bred son Melon has emerged as a star of the hurdling scene, finishing a neck second in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

Medicean has also made his mark as a broodmare sire, with his daughters having produced Grand Prix de Paris hero Shakeel and the classy sorts Duke Of Firenze, Headway, Hey Jonesy, Local Time and Regal Reality.

However, it will most likely be through Dutch Art that Medicean leaves his most significant legacy on the breed. His son, who also stands at Cheveley Park, is the source of Group 1-winning sprinters and young sires Garswood and Slade Power, and is also responsible for Caspar Netscher, Dutch Connection and Lightning Thunder – not to mention this month's narrowly beaten Nunthorpe runner-up Mabs Cross.

Medicean spent his last year in retirement after being pensioned in 2017 due to declining fertility.

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