The Deep Impact (JPN) mare Snowfall has been put down at Ballydoyle after suffering a serious pelvis injury.
Unquestionably one of the most valuable mares on the planet, Snowfall won the Epsom Oaks by 16-lengths under Franke Dettori.
It was one of three Oaks claimed by the Aidan O’Brien-trained filly with similarly wide margin successes in the Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks.
Snowfall finished a fighting sixth in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October before finishing third in the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot a fortnight later.
“It’s very sad news, terrible,” said O’Brien.
“The lads were thinking of keeping her in training but they hadn’t quite made up their minds, it was very possible.
“She had a pelvic injury in her box. Sometimes pelvic injuries go the right way or they can go the wrong way, unfortunately this one went the wrong way.
“It’s very sad and I feel very sorry for the lads, for Derrick (Smith), Michael (Tabor) and John (Magnier).”
