Mastercraftsman 2006 - 2021

Regrettably Mastercraftsman passed away at Castlehyde Stud this morning following a suspected heart attack.

The 15-year-old son of Danehill Dancer, bred by Lynch-Bages Ltd, was European Champion 2-Year-Old of 2018 having won the Group 1 National Stakes, Group 1 Phoenix Stakes and Group 2 Railway Stakes. The following season he won the Group 1 Irish 2,000 Guineas and the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes before running a fine second to Sea The Stars in the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes.

An immediate success at stud, his first two-year-old crop included Group 1 Racing Post Trophy winner Kingston Hill who went on to win the Group 1 St Leger Stakes and was runner-up in the Group 1 Epsom Derby. Also from that first crop were Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes and Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club winner The Grey Gatsby along with Group 1 Falmouth Stakes and Group 1 Prix Rothschild heroine Amazing Maria.

Arguably his best performer came in the shape of the Niarchos Family’s brilliant filly Alpha Centauri. She landed four straight Group 1 races as a three-year-old for Jessica Harrington namely the Irish 1,000 Guineas, Coronation Stakes, Falmouth Stakes and against the colts in the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois sponsored by her owners. Alpha Centauri’s own-sister Discoveries landed a two-year-old maiden at the Curragh in late June for the same connections and looks like one to follow.

Only two days ago Mastercraftsman sired the 1-2 in the Listed Upavon Stakes at Salisbury when Jon and Julia Aisbitt’s homebred Lilac Road defeated Technique by a head.

“Mastercraftsman was a lovely horse to have anything to do with and will be missed by everyone here,” said Castlehyde manager Tom Gaffney. “He has sired some wonderful animals and hopefully there will be a few more stars by him to come.”