'Code of Honor was such a special horse' - Bill Farish on death of homebred star

Grade 1 winner Code Of Honor, who was about to embark on his second season at stud in his birthplace of Lane's End Farm in Kentucky, has been euthanised after suffering an irreparable colic.

In a statement announcing the death of Will Farish's homebred son of Noble Mission, the farm confirmed that the six-year-old had died on Friday, December 23.

"Code of Honor was such a special horse to both our family and the farm," said Lane's End's Bill Farish. "Winning the Travers with a homebred will stand as one of the greatest highlights in the farm's history. We are saddened by the loss of Code of Honor, who was just embarking on a promising career at stud."

From the first crop of Noble Mission, a Galileo full-brother to Frankel whose three Group 1 victories included the Champion Stakes, Code Of Honor was successful twice at the highest level; in the Travers Stakes and the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Trained by Shug McGaughey for Farish, his owner-breeder, Code Of Honor made a winning debut at Saratoga as a juvenile before stepping immediately into Grade 1 company, finishing second in the Champagne Stakes.

Those were his only starts at two and as a three-year-old, he was sent on the Kentucky Derby trail, winning the Grade 2 Fountain Of Youth Stakes and finishing third to Maximum Security in the Grade 1 Florida Derby before he came second in the Derby itself.

Frankel's full brother Noble Mission, seen leaving Newmarket for Lane's End FarmCredit: Edward Whitaker

Five weeks after he was runner-up to Country House, he kicked off a winning streak in the Grade 3 Dwyer Stakes that saw him rise to the highest level against his own generation and older rivals. His next start was a three-length victory in the Travers, and he added the Gold Cup over elders the following month.

Kept in training at four and five, he added further Grade 3 successes in the Westchester Stakes and the Philip H Iselin Stakes and was placed in the Metropolitan and Clark Handicaps, both Grade 1 contests.

In total, Code Of Honor ran 20 times over four seasons, winning seven of those races and earning places on seven more occasions.

His dam, Reunited was also bred and raced by Farish, and the daughter of Dixie Union, another Lane's End stallion who died prematurely, won five of her ten starts at three which were headlined by the Grade 3 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes. Reunited is also the dam of the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes second Big League.

Code Of Honor stood his first season at Lane's End in 2022 for $10,000 and was due to stand the 2023 season for $7,500. He is the best, and so far, only Grade 1 winner sired by Noble Mission who relocated to Japan for the 2021 seasons and now stands at the Shizunai Stallion Station.

For all the latest North American racing and bloodstock news, visit Bloodhorse