Derby winner High Chaparral dies aged 15

Derby king High Chaparral was put down this morning at Fethard Equine Hospital in Tipperary.

High Chaparral, the Aidan O'Brien trained winner of the 2002 Derby, has died aged 15. The horse was ridden by Johnny Murtagh at Epsom and by Michael Kinane when winning the Irish Derby the same year. High Chaparral also finished third in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and won 10 of his 13 races before retiring in 2003, beginning a breeding career at Coolmore Stud. After complications from colic surgery, the horse had to be put down. Kinane said he was saddened by the news, calling High Chapparal a 'very tough, genuine horse and very talented'. 'He won two Breeders' Cups, the English and Irish Derby. He was an exceptionally good racehorse'.

High Chaparral has been euthanised at Fethard Equine Hospital during exploratory colic surgery due to a perforated intestine — Coolmore (@coolmorestud) December 21, 2014

(h/t to Irish Independent & Racing Post).