RACING is in mourning following the sad death of hugely popular sprinter Dandy Man at the age of 20.
A Group 3 winner whose last victory came under Frankie Dettori at Leicester in 2009, he was bought by Godolphin and trained by Saeed bin Suroor.
Times Newspapers LtdDandy Man would go onto run for Godolphin and have a successful career at stud[/caption]
Dandy Man, who started off under Con and Tracey Collins in Ireland, won six of his 30 races and amassed career earnings of more than £285,000.
He was victorious three times at Listed level and was runner-up to Miss Andretti in the 2007 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.
After running his final race in October 2009 he became a successful stallion and sire of three Group 1 winners.
He spent his entire stud career at Ballyhane in Ireland and owner Joe Foley paid tribute to a much-loved horse after his death.
Foley told Thoroughbred Daily News: “Dandy Man had been a great friend to so many people, starting with Con and Tracey Collins, and especially to all of us here at Ballyhane.
“It was very hard to say goodbye to him, and we are grateful for all that he has given us over the years he has been here with us.
“He was like a member of our family.
“I would also like to add a special word of gratitude to breeders who used him over the years.”
Dandy Man moved to Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation in April 2008 after proving himself a top Group-level contender under the Collins father-daughter training duo.
He was beaten under a combined eight lengths in five races during a golden spell in summer 2007.
Although agonisingly that included a narrow defeat at Ascot as well as a two-length third in the Group 1 Nunthorpe.
He failed to hit the same heights for Godolphin, his sole victory coming in a Class 3 contest over his favourite five furlongs in September 2009.