Roaring Lion succumbs to colic

Roaring Lion, the Kentucky-bred who earned the 2018 Cartier Award as Europe’s Horse of the Year, was euthanized after suffering from another bout of colic in New Zealand, ending his health battle that began in late July. The son of leading sire Kitten's Joy was 4.

Roaring Lion stood his first - and only - breeding season at Tweenhills Stud in England, and completed the Northern Hemisphere season successfully before traveling to Cambridge Stud in New Zealand for a planned Southern Hemisphere season. The stallion had just been released from mandatory post-travel quarantine on July 27 and, according to Cambridge, had been turned out in a paddock for a short time when colic symptoms were observed. The stallion was immediately sent to Cambridge Equine Hospital and underwent surgery. He then had to be taken back to surgery on Aug. 1 to repair adhesions which had formed in his small intestine.

Roaring Lion returned to the farm on Aug. 9, and the farm, in a release posted on its website, described the situation as “fragile” due to the horse’s two surgeries and resulting weight loss, but said the stallion was “clinically in good shape” with a good attitude and appetite. However, midday on Friday in New Zealand, the stallion was observed to again be exhibiting symptoms of colic, and was taken back to Cambridge Equine Hospital.

“There, operating surgeons Dr Alanna Zantingh and Dr Greg Quinn performed ultrasound examination and ... the decision was made on welfare grounds to put Roaring Lion to sleep," Tweenhills owner David Redvers said in a press release. "Sheikh Fahad and all the team at Qatar Racing, Tweenhills, Cambridge Stud and Clarehaven Stables have lost a true champion who fought and fought and fought."

Roaring Lion was out of the Grade 1-placed Street Sense mare Vionnet, a half sister to Grade 2 winners Moulin de Mougin and Schiaparelli and stakes winners Alexis Tangier and Bronson. Their dam, Grade 3 winner Cambiocorsa, is a full sister to Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner California Flag. Bred in Kentucky by RanJan Racing, the young Roaring Lion sold for $160,000 to bloodstock agent David Redvers at the 2016 Keeneland September yearling sale.

Running for Qatar Racing and trainer John Gosden, Roaring Lion won three of four starts as a juvenile, including the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes, and finished second in the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy, beaten a neck by Saxon Warrior, for his only loss. The following spring, the colt won just once from his first four outings, taking the Group 2 Dante Stakes at York, and finished third to Masar in the Group 1 Epsom Derby.

He then took off on a tear of four consecutive Group 1 victories at four different courses, taking the Coral Eclipse at Sandown, the Juddmonte International at York, the Irish Champion at Leopardstown, and the Queen Elizabeth II at Ascot. He defeated rival Saxon Warrior in both the Coral Eclipse and Irish Champion. Despire finishing last in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on dirt in his career finale, that streak was enough to lock up his championship season. Roaring Lion concluded his racing career with a record of 13-8-1-2 and earnings of more than $3.5 million.

Tweenhills has not released the number of mares Roaring Lion covered in his first and only season at stud, when he stood for a fee of approximately $52,200 in U.S. funds. However, his book had already been reported to include Group 1 winners including Baltic Baroness, Bateel, Giofra, Golden Lilac, Lightening Pearl, and Simple Verse.