Promising Juddmonte homebred Laurel (GB) (Kingman {GB}) sustained a fatal heart attack during training on Thursday.
Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the 2022 G1 Sun Chariot Stakes runner-up was last seen running second to Running Lion (GB) (Roaring Lion) in the G2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. A winner of Newmarket and Kempton novices in July and September of 2022 prior to her Sun Chariot near miss, Laurel also won the Listed Snowdrop Fillies' Stakes at Kempton over a mile last April before running 10th in the G1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in May of 2023. After a 396-day break, the Duke Of Cambridge was her first start back. Her record stands at 6-3-2 and $175,608 in earnings.
“She was a great filly and I think her better days were still to come as John was always adamant that she was a Group 1 filly,” said Juddmonte's European racing manager Barry Mahon.
“Last year she obviously missed most of the season with an injury and she had such a promising comeback run at Ascot, we were really excited.
“She was due to head to France for the Prix Jean Romanet and unfortunately she had a heart attack and dropped dead on the gallop, which was very sad. Luckily her jockey and everyone was OK, but it's never a nice thing unfortunately.”
She was the eighth foal out of the Danehill mare Promising Lead (GB), who won the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes, and was placed in the G1 Prix de l'Opera. Her dam, a half-sister to GIII Oak Tree Stakes and G3 Princess Margaret Stakes winner and five-time Group/Grade 1-placed Visit (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), is credited with eight winners overall. Blue hen Hasili (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}) is a full-sister to Laurel's granddam, the stakes winner Arrive (GB) (Kahyasi {Ire}).
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