RATHBARRY Stud have shared the sad news that Acclamation has passed away at the age of 25, just weeks after it was announced that he had retired from stud duties.

A statement on the stud’s social media platforms said: “It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Acclamation this weekend. He leaves behind a legacy as a true legend of the Irish stallion ranks. He will be deeply missed by all at Rathbarry Stud but never forgotten.”

By Royal Applause and out of a Queen Mary winner, he was trained in Devon by Gerard Cottrell and landed a valuable sprint as a juvenile. He proved progressive, as his progeny later would, and a game attitude meant that his defeats might even have been more impressive than his Group 2 and listed wins.

After a 381 absence, he finished third against his elders, including a Group 1 winner, in what was then known as the Group 2 Diadem Stakes, and later took third in the King’s Stand Stakes, separating Choisir and Oasis Dream, despite being slowly into stride and without a clear run.

It was a similar story in the Nunthorpe Stakes, where he stumbled at the start, before taking third behind Oasis Dream and The Tatling. His last two runs were a fourth in the Prix de l’Abbaye and a fine fifth in the Hong Kong Sprint won by nine-time Group 1 winner Silent Witness.

Lasting legacy

The ‘what could have been’ element of those unlucky defeats increases when you consider what he achieved as a stallion. He started as he would go on, his first crop producing Group 1 winners Dark Angel and Equiano, both subsequently sires of top-flight winners themselves. Mehmas is another who ensures Acclamation’s legacy lives on, while daughters of the Rathbarry Stud stalwart have produced two Group 1 winners, another six Group 1-placed horses and 17 successful at Group 2 and 3 level.

Acclamation remained popular throughout his career, his stock selling for up to €600,000 at the 2024 yearling sales. It followed a terrific season for the evergreen stallion, led by Group 1 wins by Makarova and Romantic Warrior. The Hong Kong champion aims to win the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup for a third consecutive time on Sunday.