Zafonic, brilliant winner of the 1993 2,000 Guineas, has tragically died in Australia. The shuttle sire, leased by Juddmonte Farms to the Arrowfield Stud for the Southern Hemisphere covering season, died from injuries suffered in a freak accident on Friday.
Zafonic, having been released from quarantine last week, had covered four mares during his brief but ill-fated stint Down Under. John Messara, the Arrowfield chairman, said: We are obviously shocked by this loss. We had been thrilled to have been given care of this stallion by Juddmonte. Ironically, Zafonic was drafted as a late replacement for another Arrowfield-bound shuttle stallion End Sweep. The latter died three months ago.
In his exceptional racing career, Zafonic went through his juvenile campaign unbeaten, which included wins in the Prix Morny, the Prix de la Salamandre and the Dewhurst Stakes. The last two victories were gained by an aggregate of seven lengths.
After suffering a surprise defeat in the Prix Djebel (second to Kingmambo) on his reappearance, Zafonic resumed normal service in the 2,000 Guineas. Simply awesome, the Andre Fabre-trained colt demolished his field, and his three and a half lengths victory over Barathea was gained in a new course record time (Newmarket, 1 mile). The old mark had stood for 45 years.
Trainer Fabre paid tribute to his former star. He said: 'He was a fantastic horse. He won the Guineas in a style seldom seen. He was a fabulous individual and very generous. It was a great shock to me.'
Zafonic's career ended on an unsatisfactory note when only seventh in the Sussex Stakes. It was later reported Zafonic had burst a blood vessel on that occasion and was later retired the winner of five of his seven starts for over half a million pounds in prize money.
Zafonic was leading first season sire in 1997 and the high ranking stallion was responsible for 25 stakes winners, including the outstanding European juvenile of 1997, Xaar. Xaar emulated his sire by completing the Salamandre-Dewhurst double.
Filed by Brendan Cole
