Samcro's breeder mourns the death of two-time Grade 1 winner's dam Dun Dun

Dun Dun, dam of two-time Grade 1-winning hurdler Samcro, has died aged 17, breeder Douglas Taylor has announced.

"Dun Dun has been a grand mare for us and we are sad to see her go," said Taylor. "We have one last filly foal out of her, a four-year-old daughter of the young sire Jet Away."

The unraced daughter of Saddler's Hall, a sister to the classy pair Featherbed Lane and Master Of The Hall and half-sister to Leinster National winner Pairofbrowneyes, was bought as a four-year-old for €12,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale

She produced seven foals during her time at paddocks, including three winners, with Samcro joined by Think Positive and Cocacobana.

Douglas Taylor: 'We are sad to see Dun Dun go'

It is, of course, her fourth foal, Samcro, for whom Dun Dun will be best remembered.

Having landed a Monksgrange maiden for Taylor and point-to-point master Colin Bowe, the son of Germany joined the ranks at Gordon Elliott's stable for an auction-topping £335,000 at the Goffs UK Aintree Sale.

Samcro went on to land the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and Deloitte Novice Hurdle during a memorable 2017-18 season.

The sky looked to be the limit when the Gigginstown House Stud colour bearer landed that brace of Grade 1s, though it has not all been plain sailing since.

However, he proved his immense talent remains intact when he made an impressive chasing debut in November.

He also held every chance when falling two out in the Drinmore Novice Chase won by Fakir D'Oudairies, and is a warm order for the Grade 1 Matchbook Betting Exchange Novice Chase at Limerick on St Stephen's Day, where he is due to clash with Faugheen.

Taylor is also the proprietor of Arctic Tack Stud stallion Jet Away, to whom Dun Dun was carrying when she died. The breeder has retained the mare's soon-to-be four-year-old daughter, Samcro's Sister, and has sent the daughter of Jet Away into training with point-to-point handler Cormac Farrell.

Read more about the story of Douglas Taylor and Dun Dun:

Extraordinary horse, extraordinary breeder: meet the man behind Samcro