STANDING at Glenview Stud, the National Hunt division of Rathbarry, Blue Bresil has died at the age of 20. He enjoyed great success, with eight top-flight winners, most notably Constitution Hill.

Considered good enough to challenge for the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club-French Derby, he was placed many times at up to Group 2 level on the flat. On his first start over hurdles, he was less than a length behind the subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup winner in a Grade 3 at Auteuil, and was later second in a Grade 2, also at Auteuil. After retiring to stud in 2010, at just €1,500, he went on to become one of the best National Hunt stallions of his generation, siring 23 individual blacktype winners.

His best runner is undoubtedly Constitution Hill, winner of eight Grade 1 contests and one of the most talked about horses of his generation. Another star of British racing by Blue Bresil is the dual Grade Betfair Chase hero Royale Pagaille, while his best runners in France include L’Autonomie. He won the French Champion Hurdle, Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil, by a stunning 30 lengths. Blue Lord, Mick Jazz, Inthepocket, Good Land and Redemption Day make up his full list of Grade 1 winners.

Blue Bresil spent his first four years at stud in Haras de la Croix Sonnet in France before moving for another four-year stint at Yorton Farm in Wales. He had completed his sixth season at Glenview this year. His fee for his first year at Glenview was €8,000, but was listed as private since.

In a statement issued by the Cashman family, it said: “Since joining the Glenview Stud roster in 2020, Blue Bresil’s remarkable rise through the stallion ranks saw him attract consistently high-quality books of mares. His first Irish crop of four-year-olds has begun to make a significant impact this season, with exceptional performances from Coutach, Samba Train, Blue Waters, Laguna Beach, Minella Marathon and juvenile hurdle winner Aqua Blue, among others.

“We would like to sincerely thank everyone who supported him throughout his career, with special thanks to the Glenview Stud staff for their exceptional care and dedication. We also extend our gratitude to Yorton Farm for managing his career in the UK with such professionalism. Blue Bresil will be greatly missed, but his legacy will live on through his progeny. He leaves his stamp as one of the leading National Hunt stallions of his time.”

Mahler

At the age of 21, Mahler (Galileo), twice crowned champion point-to-point sire in Ireland, passed away at The Beeches Stud due to the infirmities of old age.

Robert McCarthy said: “Mahler had a wonderful temperament and was a lovely horse to be around. He has been a great servant over the years and will be sadly missed by everyone here, in particular by Yann, who has looked after him so well for the past few years and is absolutely heartbroken.”

From the second crop of Galileo, Mahler was among the leading colts of his classic year and, though unplaced in the Derby, he won the Group 3 Queen’s Vase at Ascot, was runner-up to Lucarno in the Group 1 St Leger at Doncaster and then ran third to Efficient and Purple Moon in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup, which was an outstanding achievement for a three-year-old.

He went to stud in 2009 at a fee of €2,500, and reached a high of €5,500 from 2017 to 2020. He was consistently popular with breeders throughout his stallion career, siring 95 foals in his first crop, and his sixth crop proved to be his biggest, when it contained 184 foals. Including those born this year, Mahler sired more than 1,900 offspring.

At stud, Mahler produced a host of top-class chasers, and his progeny have amassed almost £11 million in earnings. He sired 26 blacktype winners, and another 27 who were placed in such races. His best performers include Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase winner The Real Whacker, Grade 1 Maghull Novices’ Chase winner Ornua, Troytown Chase winner Chris’ Dream, another Troytown Chase winner in The Big Dog who also won the Munster National, and this year’s Kim Muir Challenge Cup winner at the Cheltenham Festival, Daily Present.

While probably best known for his chasers, Mahler also sired a number of talented hurdlers. Among their number were the Grade 2 winners Sutton Place, Gwennie May Boy, Bill Joyce, Shanagh Bob, Mahler Mission and Annie Mc. Grade 2 chase winner American Mike was a very smart bumper winner who was runner-up in the Grade 1 Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.

Mahler recently made headlines when his daughter Dawn Of Light topped the Tattersalls Cheltenham November Sale at £370,000, selling to Mags O’Toole after landing a Quakerstown mares maiden by 20 lengths for owner/breeder/handler Richard Busher the previous week.