Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, owner-breeder of Crystal Ocean (GB), the world's co-top-rated horse of 2019, has died at the age of 91.
Born in August 1931 and a member of the noted banking family, Rothschild enjoyed much success on the turf with horses bred and raised at his Southcourt Stud in Bedfordshire.
Most notable among them was the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Crystal Ocean, a top-class middle-distance performer who now stands at The Beeches Stud in Ireland, and whose seven group wins included the G1 Prince of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot in the same season he was beaten a head in the G1 Juddmonte International. He was also twice second in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S.
Rothschild also raced the GI Canadian International winner Hillstar (GB) and treble Group 2 victrix Crystal Capella (GB), both also trained by Stoute, and he was represented with a Grade 1 winner over jumps by Ogee (GB), trained by his sister Renee Robeson, who played a key role in the family's Southport Stud operation and died in 2015.
The treble Group 1 winner Notnowcato (GB) was also bred at Southcourt and raced in the colours of Rothschild's sons, Anthony and David.
This season the owner-breeder had his colours carried to victory by Crystal Caprice (Ire), who won consecutive races at Yarmouth, Goodwood and Ascot in the summer. The 101-rated daughter of Frankel (GB), out of a half-sister to Crystal Ocean, is among a group consisting of one yearling, four foals, two fillies in training and six broodmares to be offered at Tattersalls later this month as part of a partial dispersal of Southcort Stud, consigned by New England Stud and Stoute's Freemason Lodge respectively.
Peter Stanley, owner of New England Stud, paid tribute to his longstanding friend and client on Tuesday. He said, “Evelyn is a real loss. He was a very special man, extremely charming, and he loved everything to do with his bloodstock operation, he really took pleasure out of it.
“He was one of the last of the great owner-breeders in a way, and was a man who punched well above his weight with the good horses he bred. His sister Renee was a very key part of the entire operation, too. She was an incredible lady and they had great fun doing it as a partnership. The 'Crystal' famiy has been a huge success in particular and it is still going strong.”
Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, a philanthropist and financier, was knighted by the Queen in 1989 for services to banking and finance. A statement issued by his family on Tuesday morning read, “It is with great sorrow that Lady de Rothschild announces the death of her beloved husband, Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, after a short illness.
“Sir Evelyn passed away peacefully yesterday evening at his home in London with his loved ones by his side.
“The family appreciates thoughts and prayers at this very sad time.”
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