Darsi, the 2006 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) winner and 2019 Croker Cup champion, has died aged 18. Pictured (left) by Susan Finnerty, he was bred by the Aga Khan and trained by Alain de Royer-Dupré. By Polish Precedent out of the Darshaan mare Darashandeh, he stood with Paddy Kinsella at Beechbrook Stud in Tinahely before moving to Gortnamona Stud in Schull, West Cork, after being bought by the O’Donovan family.

“Darsi winning the Croker was no doubt a very special moment,” Jimmy O’Donovan said previously. He was described as their “pride and joy” on the Gortnamona Stud Facebook page on Wednesday when the stallion died of a suspected heart attack.