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Vintage Crop dead..

Horrie Is God

First Grade
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http://www.racingpost.com/news/hors...ged-27/1689088/#newsArchiveTabs=last7DaysNews

Star stayer Vintage Crop dies aged 27

BY MARTIN STEVENS 6:59AM 14 JUL 2014

VINTAGE CROP, one of the most popular horses of the 1990s after he became the first European-trained winner of the Melbourne Cup, has died. The son of Rousillon was 27.

Trained by Dermot Weld for Michael Smurfit, Vintage Crop made his debut at four in a 2m Flat race at Thurles as the 20-1 outsider of two runners from his stable. He made a stunning start to his career, winning by eight lengths.

After winning twice over hurdles he was sent back to the Flat and at five he hosed up in the Cesarewitch under Walter Swinburn.

Later in 1993 he landed the first of two consecutive victories in the Irish St Leger and made history by becoming the first European-trained winner of the Melbourne Cup under his regular rider Mick Kinane, breaking new ground for the numerous raiders from the continent who are now sent to Australia every November to try to win the race that stops a nation.

Vintage Crop ran in the next two Melbourne Cups, finishing seventh to Jeune in 1994 and third to Doriemus in 1995, after which he was retired.

Vintage Crop's racing record stood at 16 wins from 28 starts. He finished out of the first three only six times.

He lived out his retirement as part of the Living Legends attraction at the Irish National Stud, alongside Beef Or Salmon, Kicking King and Moscow Flyer.

He is commemorated by a life-size statue that overlooks the paddock at the Curragh, while the Group 3 staying race at Navan named in his honour was won this year by subsequent Gold Cup hero Leading Light.
 

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