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Leading French sire Le Havre has died at the age of sixteen. The son of Noverre retired from stud duties at Montfort et Preaux a few weeks ago but unfortunately suffered from health issues on Thursday night. 

Le Havre was bred by Team Hogdala and purchased for €100,000 as a yearling at Arqana in 2007 by Jean-Claude Rouget. He remained with the trainer when sold to Gerard Augustin-Normand. In a short racing career, the colt won twice as a juvenile before a disappointing run in the G1 Criterium International (1600m). Second in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (1600m), Le Havre relished the additional distance in the 2009 Classic G1 Prix du Jockey Club (2100m) beating Fuisse and Silver Frost before retiring to stand at Montfort et Preaux (previously known as Haras de la Cauviniere). 

Despite his success on the track, Le Havre's best achievements have come at stud. Out of a half-sister to Group One winner Polar Falcon, he has produced 79 Stakes performers including 20 individual Group winners. He produced two dual Classic winners in La Cressonniere and Avenir Certain, who both completed the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (1600m) and G1 Prix de Diane (2100m) double. More recently, Le Havre has been represented on the track by Wonderful Tonight, winner of the G1 Prix de Royallieu (2800m) and the G1 British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes (2400m).