Borgia, German and French champion mare, dies of colic

Borgia, the German and French champion mare who finished a close second in the 1997 Breeders’ Cup Turf, has been euthanized after a severe case of colic, Racing Post reported Friday.

The 18-year-old Acatenango mare died at Gestut Ammerland outside Munich. Borgia’s owner and breeder, Dietrich von Boetticher, owns the farm.

As a 3-year-old in 1997, Borgia won the German Derby and Grosser Preis von Baden, both Group 1, and was second in the Group 2 German Oaks before taking on runners outside her native country. She finished third behind Peintre Celebre and Pilsudski in that year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, then shipped Stateside to get within three-quarters of a length of Chief Bearheart in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. After her American sojourn, she was winless in her next 10 starts, all in Britain and Europe, though she did finish second three more times in group company. She closed out her career in 1999 with a narrow win the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin.

Borgia earned $1,697,771 from a record of 6 wins, 7 seconds, and 2 thirds in 22 starts.

As a broodmare, she has produced four winners from six starters so far. Her last foal is a 2012 Lope De Vega filly.

Borgia was out of the European champion Britannia, by Tarim, who also produced the English Group 1 winner and German Derby winner Boreal, by Java Gold.