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Sire of last year’s Cox Plate winner dies in Ireland at age 25

Less than a week before his best-performed product chases yet another Hong Kong Cup success, the stud that stood Acclamation announced that the veteran stallion had died.

Irish farm Rathbarry Stud revealed that the 25-year-old sire of Romantic Warrior died over the weekend, just weeks after being retired from stud duty.

"It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Acclamation this weekend," Rathbarry said in a social media statement.

"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."

Romantic Warrior is one of seven Group 1 winners for the son of Royal Applause, whose biggest win came in the Group 2 Diadem Stakes at Ascot, while he was also Group 1-placed.

Acclamation was a key player in a race that changed the way Australians approach international racing, finishing second to Choisir in the 2003 King's Stand Stakes, when that Royal Ascot sprint carried Group 2 status.

He threw his share of elite-level sprinters, including Group 1 winners Dark Angel, Equiano, Marsha, Makarova and Aclaim, but is best-known in Australia for the deeds of middle-distance superstar Romantic Warrior.

Last year's Cox Plate champion, Romantic Warrior is an odds-on favourite to complete a hat-trick of wins in the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup this Sunday at Sha Tin.

Earlier this year he conquered Japan, winning the Group 1 Yasuda Kinen, while he has also won three QEII Cups and a Hong Kong Gold Cup in his adopted homeland.

Arguably Acclamation's best product to spend time with an Australian stable was Lidari, who won a Group 2 Blamey Stakes and Listed Lord Stakes.