Juddmonte homebred Mizzen Mast, a Grade 1 winner who went on to a long and successful stallion career for that outfit, was euthanized in late summer due to the cumulative effects of old age. The Cozzene horse, who had been pensioned following the 2021 breeding season, was 27.
“It wasn’t any [one thing], it was just more of an amalgamation of a bunch of things,” Juddmonte manager Garrett O’Rourke said. “They’re never easy decisions, but they’re easier when the horse is telling you, ‘Look, I’m ready.’”
Mizzen Mast won the Group 3 Prix de Guiche and was second in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris in France at age 3 before coming to the U.S. for his final five starts, including three stakes wins. Those were highlighted by a victory in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes in late 2001. He continued on that winter to win the Grade 2 Strub Stakes.
As a stallion, Mizzen Mast sired 70 stakes winners around the world. Some of his best included Mizdirection, who won nine stakes, including the 2012 and 2013 editions of the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint; and Caravel, who won the 2022 Turf Sprint and defeated males again in the Grade 1 Jaipur the following year. She retired with 13 stakes wins.
Mizzen Mast had another Breeders' Cup winner in 2012 Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Flotilla, who went on to claim the French 1000 Guineas the following year. In the U.S., he was also represented by Grade 1 winners Mast Track, Midships, Sailor's Valentine, and Ultimate Eagle. Internationally, his top runners included Saudi Arabian horse of the year Jorvick, French Group 1 winner Full Mast, Australian Group 1 winner Lighthouse, and multiple Hong Kong Group 1 winner Sea Defence.
“One of my favorites, and one of the easiest horses ever to be around,” O’Rourke said of Mizzen Mast. “He loved to train, and everyone that trains [his progeny] has always said the same. They’re lovely horses, just nice-tempered horses to be around – just uncomplicated, you know? And he was like that his whole life.”
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