Arazi dies in Australia at age 32

Arazi, famed for his electrifying victory in the 1991 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, has died at Stockwell Thorougbreds in Victoria, Australia, at age 32.

Arazi was bred in Kentucky by Buffalo Bills football team owner Ralph C. Wilson Jr., and was purchased as a weanling by Allen Paulson, who later sold a 50 percent interest to Sheikh Mohammed. Trained by Francois Boutin, the son of Blushing Groom won 9 of 14 starts during a two-year trans-Atlantic career in which he earned more than $1.2 million. He emerged onto the scene by winning the Group 3 Prix du Bois and Group 2 Prix Robert Papin in the summer of his juvenile campaign in France. He then won, in succession, the Group 1 Prix Morny, Group 1 Prix de la Salamandre, and Group 1 Grand Criterium by a combined 11 lengths, prompting his connections to ship him to Churchill Downs to run on dirt in the 1991 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Arazi made an eye-catching mid-race move from well back in the Juvenile, weaving through the field to move to second behind leader Bertrando on the far turn while wide. Arazi flew past Bertrando with ease, prompting announcer Tom Durkin to famously exclaim in disbelief, “And Arazi runs right by him!” Arazi officially drew clear to win by five lengths, with Durkin proclaiming, “Here, indeed, is a superstar!”

Arazi was named Europe’s Horse of the Year and North America’s champion 2-year-old. He returned to Churchill Downs as the heavy favorite for the 1992 Kentucky Derby, despite having undergone arthroscopic knee surgery for bone spurs and despite having just one prep race, a facile victory in a minor race in France. Arazi finished eighth behind the victorious Lil E. Tee.

Later in the season, the colt won the Group 2 Prix du Rond-Point, but finished 11th in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Gulfstream in his career finale.

Arazi spent time at stud in Britain, America, Japan, and Switzerland before moving to Australia in 2003. He is the sire of 13 stakes winners, including six graded/group stakes winners, worldwide, with his top earner being the U.S. runner Congaree, who bankrolled more than $3.2 million while winning five Grade 1 races.

Arazi also sired Saudi champion Shibl and Swiss Derby winner Tiger Groom. He also made his mark as a broodmare sire, with his daughters producing 40 stakes winners, including Eclipse Award champion and Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Lahudood, Melbourne Cup hero Americain, Dubai World Cup winner Electrocutionist, and Metropolitan Handicap winner Bribon.

Arazi was pensioned in 2012 and lived out his final years at Stockwell, where his caretakers frequently shared his routine on social media and said that he continued to receive fan mail.

“It has been an honor never lost on us to have been guardians to such a beloved horse,” Stockwell’s Mike Becker said in a release.