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Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)
“title =” Pat Smullen – Photographed at his home in Rhode, County Offaly in 2019 “class =” js-imageLoader “data-at-xn =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2019 /05/17/61744-medium.jpeg “data-br-n =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2019/05/17/61744-medium.jpeg “data-br- m = “https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2019/05/17/61744-large.jpeg” data-br-w = “https://www.rp-assets.com/ images / news / 2019/05/17/61744-large.jpeg “data-br-xw =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2019/05/17/61744-large.jpeg “onclick =” return false; “>
By Richard Forristal
The international racing community was rocked Tuesday night after it emerged that Pat Smullen had died at St Vincent Hospital in Dublin of pancreatic cancer. He was 43 years old.
Smullen, a nine-time Irish champion and 12-time European Classic winner, had been diagnosed with the disease on March 26, 2018.
His initial treatment brought him into good health last year, and he proved an inspiration to many in the way he put his efforts into fundraising initiatives for Cancer Trials Ireland, including a run of end-of-age legends. Irish Champions Week which ultimately raised over 2.5 million euros for the cause.
The news of his death, almost a year after the most memorable of occasions, is sadly moving.
Smullen suffered a relapse in recent months and his condition is believed to have deteriorated in the past week. Her family confirmed that she died Tuesday night.
A double champion apprentice in 1995 and 1996, Smullen’s brilliant career reached a glorious climax when he rose to victory aboard Harzand in the Derby in 2016.
Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)
“title =” Harzand – Win the 2016 Derby at Epsom with Pat Smullen on board “class =” js-imageLoader “data-at-xn =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2018/ 05/30/43520-medium.jpeg “data-br-n =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2018/05/30/43520-medium.jpeg “data-br-m = “https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2018/05/30/43520-large.jpeg” data-br-w = “https://www.rp-assets.com/images /news/2018/05/30/43520-large.jpeg “data-br-xw =” https://www.rp-assets.com/images/news/2018/05/30/43520-large.jpeg ” onclick = “return false;”>
That memorable triumph of the Aga Khan breed was achieved in association with his great ally Dermot Weld, for whom he succeeded Mick Kinane as a stable rider in 1999.
Smullen, recognized as one of the most reliable and stable racers of his era, achieved the breakthrough at the Group 1 level aboard the Tommy Stack-trained Tarascon at the 1997 Moyglare Stud Stakes.
During his spectacular tenure as coach of Rosewell House, he won nine championships, only Kinane has won more Irish titles.
Harzand’s brilliant Epsom-Curragh Derby was the undoubted highlight, but he also won an Irish Derby with Gray Swallow, two Irish 1,000 Guineas at Nightime and Bethrah, and four consecutive Irish St Legers with Vinnie Roe.
His other big wins for Weld in Britain included the 2,000 Guineas at Refuse To Bend, the Ascot Gold Cup at Rite Of Passage, the Champion Stakes at Fascinating Rock, the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Free Eagle and the Sun Chariot Stakes at Dress. To Thrill. , with whom he also won the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes in the USA.
Smullen rode his first winner at Vicosa for Tom Lacy in Dundalk on June 11, 1993, and also raced what turned out to be his last winner on the modern incarnation of the track at Togoville for Anthony McCann on March 16, 2018.
In total, he assembled 1,892 winners in Ireland and Great Britain, and 25 at the highest level worldwide. He leaves behind his wife Frances, the Classic-winning coach who is the sister of Aidan O’Brien’s wife, Annemarie, and their three children Hannah, Paddy and Sarah.
FIRST POST 9:37 PM, SEP 15 2020
