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Singapore champion stayer Quechua died from a colic attack in Malaysia on Sunday, three days before officially turning eight.
Recently retired, the Argentinian-bred son of Pure Prize could not be saved in spite of all the medical care administered to him by vets in Cameron Highlands, day and night since he came down with the first bout of colic on Saturday.
Trainer Ricardo Le Grange was understandably devastated by the sad news. Not only has he been right through Quechua’s racing career every step of the way since the time he was then prepared by his former mentor Patrick Shaw, but he also gave him his first Group 1 success in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m) as a trainer in his own right last year in June.
The South African handler was also Quechua’s travelling foreman at his overseas raids in Hong Kong in 2016 and as his trainer in Dubai last year. Quechua did not win the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) or Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup (3200m), but Le Grange said the gelding gave his all and was not disgraced against some of the world’s best stayers.
“It’s very sad Quechua has left us so early. He got colicky on Saturday and he died the next day in spite of all the efforts to save him,” said Le Grange.
“He’s never had colic in his life before, and that’s why it came as a shock. It was just one of those freak accidents.
“This horse has been so good to Mark and Emily Yong, Pat, (assistant-trainer) Jacci (de Tert) and myself. He has given us so much and he owed us nothing.
“He won a Gold Cup and a Derby and four other Group races, and of course, I will always remember him as my first Group 1 winner.
“After his last race when he finished last, we knew that wasn’t him, he was telling us he had had enough. We decided to retire him to Mark’s farm in Cameron Highlands, and he left us about a month ago.
“Mark already has Lizarre – the longest resident there, three years - Magneto and Emperor’s Banquet there, all Group winners. Quechua would have been in great company enjoying a peaceful retirement there, but sadly, it wasn’t to be.”
After his last race in the Group 2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) at Kranji in April, when last to Circuit Land, Quechua bowed out with the smart record of nine wins, six seconds and seven thirds from 35 starts for prizemoney in excess of $3.1 million for the Avengers Stable of the Yongs.
Though Corey Brown was not Shaw’s or Le Grange’s stable jockey, the Australian remains by far the jockey to have forged the most fruitful association with Quechua, having partnered him at all his wins bar one – the QEII Cup when ridden by Vlad Duric.
A versatile sort who could be ridden from a handy spot or from further back in the field, Quechua had an indomitable fighting spirit when on song, often outstaying his rivals in tight finishes, the most memorable being perhaps his gutsy Singapore Derby victory in a three-way thriller with War Affair and Fastnet Dragon in 2015.
Quechua’s six Group wins came in the 2014 Group 1 Longines Singapore Gold Cup (2200m), 2015 Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m), 2017 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m), 2016 Group 2 Chairman’s Trophy (1800m), 2015 Group 3 New Year Cup (1900m) and 2016 Group 3 Fortune Bowl (2000m).
He was twice voted Singapore Champion Stayer (2014 and 2015) and was voted Champion Older Horse in 2016.