European champion Rodrigo de Triano dies at age 25

Rodrigo de Triano, Europe’s champion 3-year-old colt of 1992 and a classic winner in England and Ireland, died of pneumonia at age 25, Racing Post reports.

The son El Gran Senor was bred in Kentucky by Swettenham Stud, and was trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam for owner Robert Sangster. Rodrigo de Triano went undefeated in five starts as a juvenile, highlighted by wins in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes and Group 2 Champagne Stakes in England.

The horse ran at an even higher level during his sophomore campaign, winning both the English and Irish Two Thousand Guineas, as well as the English Group 1 Dubai Champion Stakes and the Juddmonte International Stakes. He wrapped up his campaign with a start in the 1992 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Gulfstream Park.

Rodrigo de Triano retired after that start, compiling nine wins in 13 starts for earnings of $1,354,192.

"He had a great turn of foot on fast ground and that's why he was such a good horse,” Chapple-Hyam said. “He was an easy horse to train and was good from the first time I worked him. I was only young, but I thought I had a racehorse on my hands. I'm quite sad that he's died, but he had a good life."

Rodrigo de Triano was sold to stand in Japan upon his retirement, occasionally shuttling to Glenmorgan Stud in New Zealand. He sired 19 foal crops during his stallion career, highlighted by Japanese Oaks winner Erimo Excel, Group 2 winners Super Hornet and Golden Rodrigo, and Group 3 winners Ibuki Yamano O, Grace Namura, and Meiner Condor. His top Southern Hemisphere runners were led by Rodrigo Rose, a Group 3 winner in Australia and New Zealand.