Popular stallion Winning Rupert has died following a severe bout of colic, passing away at Westbury Park in Western Australia on Thursday despite undergoing surgery.
Westbury Park owner Phil Ibbotson confirmed the 12-year-old son of Written Tycoon could not be saved after the medical procedure. His death came just one day after the stud introduced its newest Written Tycoon-line sire, Straight Charge, during a parade at Pinjarra.
Winning Rupert had only recently relocated to Westbury Park after arriving in May following the closure of Geisel Park. Standing on behalf of leading Perth trainer Luke Fernie, he was preparing for the next chapter of his stud career after previously serving at Grandview Stud in Queensland and Newgate Farm in the Hunter Valley, where he covered an opening book of 147 mares in 2017.
Bred by Wicklow Lodge in Queensland, the striking liver chestnut enjoyed a brilliant but short-lived racing career for trainer Bjorn Baker. From just six starts, he captured the Group 2 Champagne Classic (1200m) at Doomben and the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate (1300m) at Eagle Farm in record time.
Baker famously regarded Winning Rupert as the fastest horse he had ever trained before injury brought his racing career to an early end.
His influence had already been felt in Western Australia before his move across the Nullarbor through the Simon Miller-trained It’sarayday, winner of the Listed Fairetha Stakes, and stablemate Madhi Girl, successful in the Listed Summer Scorcher.
Winning Rupert also produced a number of high-class performers, headed by Group 2 winners Iowna Merc, who claimed the ATC Ajax Stakes, and Seonee, winner of the SAJC Queen Of The South Stakes. His stakes winners also included Semana, successful in the Group 3 Triscay Stakes, and Tintookie, who landed the Group 3 Wenona Girl Handicap.
His most recent black-type winner arrived last month when two-year-old gelding Cool Gent stormed home from the tail of the field to win the Listed Oxlade Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm.
Across his stud career, Winning Rupert sired 157 individual winners from 439 victories, compiling an impressive 62 per cent winners-to-runners strike rate and leaving a lasting legacy both on the racetrack and at stud.
