Norton Grove Stud resident and July Cup hero Pastoral Pursuits dies aged 20

Pastoral Pursuits, the winner of the July Cup and sire of the likes of Ventura Rebel, Pastoral Player and Rose Blossom, has died at the age of 20.

The son of Bahamian Bounty was bred by Red House Stud and bought by his trainer Hughie Morrison as a yearling before a lucrative racing career.

A three-time winner at two, including the Group 3 Sirenia Stakes at Kempton, he took Listed honours at Newbury the following season before winning Doncaster's Park Stakes. His career highlight came when defeating Avonbridge in the July Cup in 2005.

Pastoral Pursuits was subsequently retired to the National Stud, where he stood for 11 seasons before swapping to Ladyswood and Snailwell Stud and then Norton Grove Stud, where he has resided for four seasons.

Ventura Rebel (left): Group 3 winner and Commonwealth Cup thirdCredit: Edward Whitaker

The Yorkshire stud run by Richard Lingwood announced the news via a statement on its website which said: "It is with great sadness we have to let everyone know that we lost Pastoral Pursuits yesterday.

"Sadly he died after covering a mare due to a rupture in a major vessel in his chest a symptom of his age. We are all deeply saddened by his death.

"Pastoral Pursuits will be a great loss to us as he was a real character and will be sadly missed."

He has been responsible for 13 stakes winners including the Group 3-winning quartet of Ventura Rebel, Rose Blossom, Pastoral Player and Ipompieridiviggiu, and Listed scorers including Angel's Pursuit, Catalina Bay and Marine Commando.

The Richard Fahey-trained Ventura Rebel has been his most recent flagbearer, finishing a neck second to A'Ali in the Norfolk Stakes at two before landing the Renaissance Stakes at the Curragh on his most recent start.

The colt, who also won both his starts at two, was also an excellent third to Golden Horde in the Commonwealth Cup last term.

Pastoral Pursuits, who was standing the 2021 stud season for a fee of £2,000, was the third foal out of the winning Most Welcome mare Star and a full-brother to Goodricke, winner of the Haydock Sprint Cup and second in the Prix Maurice de Gheest for David Loder.

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