Coolmore stallion Tale of the Cat (Storm Cat–Yarn, by Mr. Prospector) died Monday from “the infirmities of old age” according to an announcement released through the Coolmore website. Born in 1994 for the breeding partnership of Indian Creek, Philip Freedman and Hugo Lascelles, Tale of the Cat was a $375,000 Keeneland September grad in 1995 for trainer John Forbes, who signed the ticket on behalf of Phantom House Farm. He was a 11 1/2-length winner on debut at Monmouth Park and quickly moved up the ranks, contesting the GI Buick Haskell Invitational Handicap in his third start where he finished fourth to GI Belmont Stakes winner Touch Gold (Deputy Minister). Just 20 days later, he rebounded to earn his first graded stakes win, taking the GII Kings Bishop Stakes at Saratoga. His 3-year-old season ended with a third in the GI Vosburgh at Belmont in September. As a 4-year-old, Tale of the Cat picked up an additional Grade I-placing in the GI Whitney before finishing out his racing career when third again in the 1998 Vosburgh. Retired to Coolmore's Ashford Stud for the 1999 breeding season, Tale of the Cat would go on to sire 109 stakes winners worldwide with 48 individual graded or group winners and 10 Grade I winners, including three-time Eclipse winner Gio Ponti, GI Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Stopchargingmaria, Lion Heart and Tale of Ekati. As a broodmare sire, his daughters have supplied 118 stakes winners, 46 graded/group winners and nine Grade I winners, including Dortmund (Big Brown) and Amazing Maria (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). He also sired 10 'TDN Rising Stars'.
The announcement in its entirety reads: It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Ashford's elder Statesman – Tale Of The Cat at the age of 30, due to the infirmities of old age. The winner of the 1997 Gr.2 Kings Bishop Stakes when partnered by Julie Krone for John Forbes & Phantom House, Tale Of The Cat was bred in Kentucky by Indian Creek, Philip Freedman & Hugo Lascelles Farm. Enjoying an illustrious stud career, he was responsible for over 100 Stakes winners worldwide including three-time Eclipse Award winner Gio Ponti.
“Tale Of The Cat was a brilliant servant, he was a wonderful stallion and has turned into a very good broodmare sire, he was a great horse to get a young mare off to a good start,” said Dermot Ryan. “Tale Of The Cat has been at Ashford for 25 years, so was very much part of the family, he was a great character who was loved by all and I would like to thank Richard Barry and all of his staff past and present who cared for him over the years both during his stud career and during his retirement.”
Tale Of The Cat (1994 – 2024).
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Ashford's elder Statesman – Tale Of The Cat at the age of 30, due to the infirmities of old age… https://t.co/PaQdXUQ0mN pic.twitter.com/QCc1be7uKV— Coolmore America (@coolmoreamerica) June 24, 2024
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