Davidoff, sire of Grade 1 novice hurdle winner Saturnas, passes away

The sad occurrence of a number of stallion deaths in France this month was added to on Friday with the loss of Davidoff, sire of Grade 1 novice hurdle winner Saturnas, who was euthanised following a decline in his health at Haras de Saint Arnoult. He was 14.

Trained by Peter Schiergen for owner Margot Herbert, Davidoff showed his best form at three, winning a Group 3 over an extended mile and narrowly being denied a podium finish in both the German 2,000 Guineas and German Derby.

The son of Montjeu earned a career-high Racing Post Rating (RPR) of 106 for his second to Persian Storm in the Bavarian Classic at three and he also raced in France, Italy and the UAE as a four-year-old.

Bred by Dr Klaus Schulte, Davidoff was a half-brother to Group 2 winner Denaro and two other stakes performers, out of Dapprima, who was second in the German 1,000 Guineas in 1996.

Two German Classic winners appear under Davidoff's first three dams - Diacada, winner of the 1,000 Guineas in 2003, and Diu, Davidoff's third dam who won the Oaks in 1972.

An interesting aside for jumps breeders is that Davidoff's dam is a half-sister to Depeche Toi, the dam of 2016 Gold Cup hero Don Cossack.

Davidoff stood for most of his career at Haras de la Kammerholz in France, where his fee never rose above €2,500, before his relocation to Saint Arnoult last year, where he was standing the latest season at a €3,000 fee.

He is one of six sons of Montjeu to supply a Grade 1 winner over jumps - Authorized, Jukebox Jury, Montmartre, Scorpion and Walk In The Park being the others.

Saturnas, who bids to win a second Grade 1 in the Ryanair Gold Cup Novice Chase at Fairyhouse on Sunday, was his leading jumps performer with an RPR of 144.

Le Fou, Poliglote, Trempolino, Valanour and Vision D'Etat are other stallions to have made their mark on their French breeding scene, but whose lights were quenched earlier this month.