Palace Music put down
The champion racehorse and sire Palace Music was put down on this week at Rangal Park Stud in Victoria at the age of 27. The sire of the outstanding galloper Cigar, the world’s leading money winner when he retired, Palace Music sired 33 stakes winners worldwide.
A son of The Minstrel, Palace Music won seven of his 21 races for part-owners Nelson Bunker-Hunt and Allen Paulson. His victories included the G1 Champion Stakes in England in 1984 and the John Henry Hcp. He also won stakes races in France where he began his career. Palace Music began his stud career at Bunker-Hunt’s Bluegrass Farm in Kentucky and also stood in America at Paulson’s Brookside Farms.
Later in his breeding career he also did duty in New Zealand, Australia and Japan. In 1996 Palace Music was the leading sire by progeny earnings in the US, thanks largely to the deeds of Cigar who retired that year with earnings a tick under US$10 million. Bred in Kentucky by Mereworth Farm, Palace Music was produced from the Prince John mare Come My Prince, a half-sister to Hollywood Oaks-G1 winner Prize Spot.
His best win was his Champion Stakes victory over the mare Pebbles, who won the race the following year. His win in the John Henry Hcp came under the supervision of American trainer Charlie Whittingham.
Among his top Australasian performers were the outstanding AJC Derby winner Naturalism, and Group One winners Anthems, Ready to Explode and Crystal Palace and Madam Valeta (NZ), the dam of Falkirk (NZ). Palace Music finished second to Danehill on the Australian Broodmare Sires List in the 2005/06 season.
Stallions.com.au |
