Rory's Jester dies at 25 in Australia

Rory's Jester, one of Australia's leading sires of juveniles, died Tuesday in Australia at age 25, according to international trade reports.

A Crown Jester horse, Rory's Jester had been pensioned two years ago at Swettenham Stud in Victoria, where he had stood since the early 1990s.

Rory's Jester won the 1985 Golden Slipper and four other Australian group stakes before retiring to stud as the Australasian juvenile champion. Rory's Jester initially stood at Collingrove Stud's New South Wales division and was Australia's leading freshman sire in 1986 before moving to Collingrove's Victoria farm, now named Swettenham.

During his long career at stud, Rory's Jester sired such runners as Australian champions Isca and Aragen; Singapore champion Cordial Spirit; and Australian Group 1 winners Racer's Edge and Chortle.

Rory's Jester was out of the Roan Rocket mare Rory's Rocket, a Group 2 winner in England.