Dynaformer, the sire of the 2010 Melbourne Cup winner Americain, has died at Three Chimneys Farm, the famed United States thoroughbred stud announced.
His death at 27 came a fortnight after he was retired from stud duty when he suffered an aortic valve rupture.
In a stud career which produced 21 crops of foals, Dynaformer also sired the ill-fated Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro among 25 Group One winners.
His progeny have won $US105 million, placing him in the top 0.5 per cent of all sires by average earnings per starter.
“Dynaformer impacted the (thoroughbred) industry in a way few ever have or will,” Three Chimneys president Case Clay said.
“More than that, though, he was an awe-inspiring horse to be around.
“He commanded respect and his toughness was undeniable to the very end.”
Dynaformer’s health took a turn for the worse at the weekend.
“A normal horse would not have survived his initial cardiac episode,” the stud’s veterinarian Jim Morehead said.
“He did everything on his own terms, including deciding when he’d had enough.”
Americain, who is now trained in Australia after winning the Melbourne Cup for French trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre, is destined to stand at stud.
The handsome stallion was unplaced in Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick but trainer David Hayes said he would return for a spring campaign aimed at winning another Melbourne Cup.
