Horse Chestnut Dies

South African Horse of the Year and Triple Crown winner  Horse Chestnut (SAf) (Fort Wood–London Wall {SAf}, by Col. Pickering {SAf}) died overnight Feb. 20 at Drakenstein Stud at the age of 19 due to heart failure. 

Racing as a homebred for Harry and Bridgit Oppenheimer with trainer Mike de Kock, Horse Chestnut is considered by many to be the best racehorse South Africa has ever produced. After breaking his maiden on debut by 5 1/2 lengths, Horse Chestnut went on to win two of his next three outings as a juvenile, and would never again be beaten. He won the G1 Cape Guineas by 6 3/4 lengths the following January and drubbed elders by 8 1/4 lengths in the G1 J&B Met–the first 3-year-old to win that prestigious event in 54 years–three weeks later. He took the G1 SA Classic by four lengths in March and romped by 10 lengths in the G1 SA Derby–thus completing the country's Triple Crown–in his South African swansong in April. Horse Chestnut was crowned that year's 3-year-old champion and Horse of the Year. 

Horse Chestnut then set off on an international campaign set to include the GI Donn H. prior to the G1 Dubai World Cup. After more than eight months on the sidelines in quarantine, Horse Chestnut won Gulfstream's GIII Broward S. by 5 1/2 lengths under Mike Smith in January of 2000, but his career was ended by injury thereafter. Horse Chestnut retired to Claiborne Farm in Kentucky, and his best produce in the U.S. were the GI Garden City Breeders' Cup H. winner Lucifer's Stone and GII San Rafael S. victor Spanish Chestnut. He also produced Grade III winners Smart Enough, Askbut I Won'ttell and Duveen. 

In 2009, Horse Chestnut was purchased by a syndicate and brought home to South Africa to stand at Drakenstein. There, he has sired Grade 3 winners Chestnut's Rocket (SAf) and Banbury (SAf), as well as the Grade 1-placed Rake's Chestnut (SAf), from relatively small crops. 

Horse Chestnut is also making his mark as a broodmare sire. His daughters have produced the likes of GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile winner Suggestive Boy (Arg) (Easing Along); GIII Jimmy Durante S. winner Ol' Fashion Gal (Sky Mesa); G2 Prix Eugene Adam winner Pisco Sour (Lemon Drop Kid) and his G3 Tercentenary S.-winning full-brother Cannock Chase; and last year's GIII Delta Jackpot S. winner Ocho Ocho Ocho (Street Sense). 

Drakenstein Stud owner Gaynor Rupert said, “It was a privilege to stand such a horse of tremendous importance in South African racing history. He was a gentleman and loved by all the staff at Drakenstein. As one of the first two stallions of the farm it was something special for all at the stud to watch the friendship and bond develop between him and Trippi over the years. He will be sorely to be missed.” 

Stud manager Ross Fuller added, “He was always a lovely horse to work with and one who it is an honor to have been associated.”