Coolmore has announced the death of its promising young sire and 2018 Coventry Stakes (G2) winner Calyx due to an acute foot injury suffered mid-covering season.
The son of Kingman sported the silks of owner/breeder Juddmonte to a stunning victory in the group 2 contest at Royal Ascot, having become his sire's first winner 10 days previously at Newmarket.
His Coventry victory saw him defeat subsequent multiple group 1-winning sprinter Advertise by a length, with another classy performer in subsequent Cornwallis Stakes (G3) scorer Sergei Prokofiev another neck behind in third. The John Gosden-trained colt also landed the Pavilion Stakes (G3) by four lengths on his seasonal reappearance at Ascot the following May.
After a defeat to Hello Youmzain in the Sandy Lane Stakes (G2) on his fourth and final start, he retired to Coolmore after being acquired by the operation that summer.
He stood for an opening fee of €22,500 and among his leading performers are group 2 winners Persian Dreamer and Classic Flower in addition to group 3 scorers Sepals and Zona Verde.
He is also responsible for group 1 performers Purple Lily, third in the 2024 Irish Oaks (G1), and Eben Shaddad, third in the 2023 Dewhurst Stakes (G1), as well as listed winners Likeakalix and It Ain't Two. Other notable progeny include 2023 Norfolk Stakes (G2) runner-up Malc, 2024 Debutante Stakes (G2) third Barnavara, and 2024 Karrakatta Plate (G2) second Earthstorm.
"It is very unfortunate to lose such a promising young sire," Castlehyde's Cathal Murphy added. "He was very strongly supported by breeders last year and looked to have an extremely bright future ahead of him. He was a lovely horse to deal with and all the stallion team loved dealing with him, he was very straightforward.
"He made a good start with his first crop of 2-year-olds and off the back of that was very popular last year."
The 9-year-old was out of the high-class Observatory mare Helleborine, a group 3 and listed-winning juvenile who was also second in the 2010 Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) for Christiane Head. She is a sister to 2008 Sprint Cup (G1) winner African Rose, dam of Frankel 's first group winner Fair Eva, and Needleleaf, the dam of Godolphin's unbeaten 2021 European champion juvenile and 2022 Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1) hero Native Trail.
