Colorspin, Irish Oaks winner and dam of Opera House, dies at 29

Colorspin, the 1986 Irish Oaks winner and dam of European champions Opera House and Kayf Tara, died Aug. 13 at age 29.

The Racing Post reported that the pensioned High Top mare appeared to have had a heart attack. Colorspin was a homebred at Meon Valley Stud in England and produced her last foal, the Montjeu winner Justification, in 2008.

Colorspin achieved fame as a broodmare with her first foal, the Sadler’s Wells horse Opera House. He was named champion older horse in Europe in 1993 after wins in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, Coral-Eclipse Stakes, and Coronation Cup. He also finished second in Group 1’s in France and Ireland and was third in that year’s Arc de Triomphe, won by the filly Urban Sea. Opera House has had a successful stud career in Japan, where he was one of the country’s leading sires in 2000.

Colorspin’s other European champion, Kayf Tara, also was by Sadler’s Wells. He won the 1998 Ascot Gold Cup (he finished third in it the following year) and earned European champion stayer honors three times, from 1998 to 2000. Colorspin’s last Group 1 winner was the Zafonic filly Zee Zee Top, a Group 1 winner in France before producing Group 1 winner Izzi Top.

Colorpsin also produced group-placed Highland Dress and Spinning the Yarn, dam of Irish champion and Grade 1-placed Necklace.

A daughter of the very good mare Reprocolor, Colorspin was a half-sister to Irish Group 1 winner Cezanne, group winner Bella Colora, and graded-placed Lafitte the Pirate.