Epsom Derby Winner Erhaab Dies Aged 30 at Batsford Stud

Erhaab, the oldest living winner of the Epsom Derby (G1) after his victory in the 1994 classic, has died at Batsford Stud at the age of 30. Best known for his brilliant run to beat King's Theatre in the Ever Ready Epsom Derby, the son of Chief's Crown also won the Homeowners Dante Stakes (G2), finished third in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes (G1), and won several times at 2. A Shadwell homebred, he last ran behind King's Theatre in the 1994 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (G1), in which he damaged suspensory ligaments and was retired midway through his 3-year-old season. He failed to prove successful in studs in Japan and Kentucky and at Shadwell's Beech House Stud, before moving into the National Hunt sphere at Wood Farm Stud and finally Batsford. He enjoyed the happiest of retirements in Gloucestershire under the care of Batsford's Tim Varey. He had been a favorite of the late Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum and received regular visits from representatives of Shadwell. Batsford Stud said via Twitter: "We are sorry to say we lost our lovely old boy Erhaab who died peacefully in his sleep last night at the grand old age of 30. "He was such a character and had quite a following. People often enquired after his wellbeing. He will be sorely missed by us all at Batsford Stud."