COOLMORE Stud lost a priceless filly this week when multiple Group 1 winner Snowfall had to be put down after suffering a pelvic injury. Her death comes a few months after connections lost another top filly in Santa Barbara, also due to a pelvic injury.

Having only won one of her seven races as a juvenile, Snowfall blossomed at three and notched up four successive victories, including three Group 1s.

She won the Musidora at York by almost four lengths before completing a Group 1 treble in the Oaks, Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks. She lost her form in the autumn, finishing second in the Prix Vermeille, sixth in the Arc and third on Champions Day at Ascot.

No decision had been taken on whether the four-year-old would remain in training this year or head off to stud.

A rare daughter of Deep Impact to race in Europe, Snowfall was out of a sister to Arc winner Found.

“It’s very sad news, terrible,” said trainer Aidan O’Brien. “The lads were thinking of keeping her in training but they hadn’t quite made up their minds, it was very possible.

“She had a pelvic injury in her box. Sometimes pelvic injuries go the right way or they can go the wrong way. Unfortunately this one went the wrong way.

“It’s very sad and I feel very sorry for the lads, for Derrick (Smith), Michael (Tabor) and John (Magnier).”