British champ Oh So Sharp dead at 19

Oh So Sharp, the winner of Britain's Fillies Triple Crown in 1985, has died at the age of 19.

Following an unbeaten 3-for-3 season as a juvenile, the daughter of Kris swept to victory in the 1,000 Guineas, the English Oaks (by a record six lengths over Triptych), and the St. Leger, ridden in each race by Steve Cauthen. That made her the first horse to win three British classics since Nijinsky had turned the trick in 1970.

She lost her perfect record when finishing second by a neck to Petoski in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, but was crowned Europe's champion 3-year-old filly nonetheless.

"She was the best filly I ever rode," said Cauthen. "She had a lot of character and was unlucky not to win the King George."

The best of her 10 foals was the filly Rosefinch, whom Cauthen partnered to victory in the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary in 1992. Her last foal is a 2001 colt by Danehill.

Owned by Sheikh Mohammed and trained by Henry Cecil, Oh So Sharp had been suffering from laminitis. She was euthanized at Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket, where she had been foaled and where she had been serving as a broodmare since her retirement from racing.