Euro champ Mozart dead

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Mozart, Europe's champion sprinter last year, died of an intestinal inflammation on Sunday morning in Ireland, where he stood at Coolmore Stud's headquarters in Co. Tipperary. The stallion was 4 years old and had been in his first season at stud.

Mozart stood at Coolmore for an advertised fee of 30,000 Irish punts, or about $21,888.

According to a statement issued Monday by Coolmore, the Danehill colt developed a non-responsive case of acute colitis on Saturday and "in spite of intensive veterinary treatment throughout the day and night, he died at 6:15 a.m. Sunday morning."

"He became dehydrated and toxic when diagnosed with colitis," Coolmore principal John Magnier told Racing Post. "Everything was done to try to save him, but unfortunately he didn't make it.

Mozart raced for major Coolmore client Michael Tabor for two seasons before retiring to stud. He gained most of his success at age 3 last year, when he gained top sprinter honors after winning England's Nunthorpe Stakes and July Cup and the Irish 2,000 Guineas, all Group 1, as well as the English Group 3 Jersey Stakes. He also finished third last year in the Group 3 Tetrarch Stakes and the Leopardstown Irish 2,000 Guineas Trial.

Mozart retired with a career record of 10-5-1-2 and total earnings of $816,656. Mozart was out of the Spectacular Bid mare Victoria Cross, making him a half-brother to Grade 3 winner England Expects and to stakes-placed Top Order.