Friday, 17 August 2012: Classic winner and outstanding broodmare Colorspin has died from a presumed heart attack at the age of 29.
A daughter of High Top, Colorspin was out of the influential broodmare Reprocolor and was a half-sister to a number of high-class performers, including the Irish Champion Stakes winner Cezanne and Prix de l'Opera winner Bella Colora.
She was an easy winner of the Irish Oaks in 1986 for Sir Michael Stoute before she excelled as a broodmare.
Her first foal was Opera House, a son of Sadler's Wells who carried the colours of Sheikh Mohammed to land three G1 races culminating with a memorable victory in the King George.
Her first yearling to pass through the sales ring was another son of Sadler's Wells who was bought by Darley for 210,000gns at Tattersalls in 1995.
The colt raced as Kayf Tara and became one of Europe's leading stayers with double victories in both the Ascot Gold Cup and the Irish St Leger.
Opera House went on to had a fruitful stud career with the multiple Japanese G1 winner T M Opera O his standout performer.
Kayf Tara stands at Overbury Stud in Gloucestershire and has established himself as a leading National Hunt sire.
Colorspin is also the dam of G1 winner Zee Zee Top (Zafonic), winner of the Prix de l'Opera.
Zee Zee Top has also become a top class broodmare with two winners including the Pretty Polly Stakes heroine Izzi Top.
Colorspin's career at Meon Valley Stud yielded seven winners from a total of 16 foals, including the G2-placed Highland Dress.
She was retired from duty after producing Justification, a son of Montjeu who was secured for 550,000gns by John Magnier as a yearling and won in Ireland last year.
Mark Weinfeld, the owner of Meon Valley Stud, said: "The death of Colorspin is a great shame, but I am happy that she had a good retirement.
"She leaves an outstanding legacy and we have lots more to look forward to with Zee Zee Top and her daughter Izzi Top."
