MASTERCRAFTSMAN passed away at Castlehyde Stud on Friday morning following a suspected heart attack. He was just 15 and was an extremely versatile and popular sire.

The son of Danehill Dancer, bred by Paul Shanahan’s Lynch-Bages Ltd, was European champion at two, having won the Group 1 National Stakes, Group 1 Phoenix Stakes and the Group 2 Railway Stakes.

The following season he won the Group 1 Irish 2,000 Guineas and the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes before running a fine second to Sea The Stars in the Group 1 Juddmonte International.

His first crop included Group 1 Racing Post Trophy winner Kingston Hill who went on to win the Group 1 St Leger and was runner-up in the Group 1 Derby at Epsom.

Also from that first crop were Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes and Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) winner The Grey Gatsby, along with Group 1 Falmouth Stakes and Group 1 Prix Rothschild heroine Amazing Maria.

Arguably his best performer came in the shape of the Niarchos Family’s brilliant filly Alpha Centauri. She landed four straight Group 1 races as a three-year-old for Jessica Harrington: the Irish 1,000 Guineas, Coronation Stakes, Falmouth Stakes and the Prix Jacques Le Marois, the latter against colts and sponsored by her owners. Alpha Centauri’s own-sister Discoveries landed a two-year-old maiden at the Curragh in late June for the same connections.

“Mastercraftsman was a lovely horse to have anything to do with and will be missed by everyone here,” said Castlehyde manager Tom Gaffney.

“He has sired some wonderful animals and hopefully there will be a few more stars by him to come.”