European champion Russian Rhythm dies at age 14

Russian Rhythm, Europe’s champion 3-year-old filly of 2003, was euthanized Wednesday due to colic. She was 14.

The Kingmambo mare raced 10 times over three years, winning seven starts for earnings of $1,260,794. Her breakout season came during her sophomore campaign, where she won the English One Thousand Guineas, as well as the Group 1 Coronation Stakes and Nassau Stakes en route to being named European champion.

Russian Rhythm started once as a 4-year-old, winning the Grade 1 Lockinge Stakes. Her 2-year-old season featured wins in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes and the Grade 3 Princess Margaret Stakes.

Russian Rhythm was bred in Pennsylvania by Brushwood Stable, and brought $370,000 as a weanling at the 2000 Keeneland November breeding stock sale before being shipped to England and selling to Chevely Park Stud for $678,770 at the 2001 Tattersalls October yearling sale. Sir Michael Stoute trained the racemare for that outfit.

"She was a terrific race mare, probably the best filly [stud owners] Mr and Mrs Thompson had ever raced,” Chris Richardson, director of Chevely Park Stud told Racing Post. “Thankfully we have five fillies to continue her legacy. Her Invincible Spirit two-year-old called Russian Heroine is in training with Sir Michael Stoute."

Russian Rhythm has had four foals to race, two of which are winners, highlighted by stakes-placed Safina. The mare was not bred for the 2014 foaling season, and her last foal, a Dansili filly, has been named Russian Finale.