Group 1 Winner Creator Passes Away at 29
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Photo:
Rick Capone
Creator, a Group 1 winner in France, was euthanized at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital on Saturday, February 28 due to complications from colic.
The 29-year-old son of Mill Reef had been a pensioner of Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement farm in Georgetown, KY, since 2004, when he was retired from stud duty in Japan and returned to the United States.
A homebred for Sheikh Mohammed, Creator (Mill Reef - Chalon, Habitat) won seven of his16 starts for career earnings of $550,537. His most impressive victory came at Longchamp in the GR 1 Prix Ganay-a race his sire also won impressively in 1972.
Creator's final start was in the U.S in the GR 1 Budweiser International where he suffered a career-ending injury.
Creator and Old Friends stable mate Sunshine Forever were the first stallions the non-profit organization returned from overseas for U.S. retirement.
At the time of his death Creator was surrounded by Michael Blowen, president and founder of Old Friends, his wife Diane White, and others who cared for him daily at the farm.
"Creator was not only a magnificent animal, he was one of the founding fathers of Old Friends," said Blowen. "Every time we lose one of the horses it's as if they take a little part of our lives with them," he added, "and, yesterday, Creator took an enormous chunk with him."
History:
Creator was bred in Great Britain and owned by HRH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and overseer of the world-renowned Godolphin Stables. One of the last foals of Mill Reef, Creator raced primarily in France and England both on the dirt and on the turf.
At 3, the dazzling chestnut took first place in three of six starts in France. At 4, he continued his successful campaign with three consecutive graded wins at Longchamp (extending his winning sequence to five), including a stunning two-and-half-length victory in the Prix Ganay—the same race his sire won impressively in 1972. His last career start was in the U.S in the Budweiser International. He came in 3rd with jockey Jose Santos aboard.
Creator stood at Nitta Farm along with his Old Friends stable mate Sunshine Forever. They are the first two stallions ever to be returned from stud duty in Asia to the US for retirement.
Source: Old Friends Press Release
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