Mark Of Esteem dies at 21

The flashy bay, named for his striking blaze, won the second of his two starts as a juvenile under the tutelage of the late Sir Henry Cecil, before transferring to Saeed bin Suroor at Godolphin and becoming one of their greatest heroes.

Mark Of Esteem became Europe’s Champion Miler and three-year-old of 1996 after an outstanding year that saw him victorious in the 2,000 Guineas and Celebration Mile, before culminating in a scintillating performance in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes running down Bosra Sham. Leg three of Frankie Dettori’s ‘Magnificent Seven’ that day, Mark Of Esteem earned a Timeform rating of 137, the best QEII rating of the Nineties and a record that he held until only Frankel bettered it in 2011.

The son of Darshaan retired to stud in 1997 and enjoyed success at the highest level as a stallion, through his first-crop daughter Ameerat, who won the 1,000 Guineas in 2001, and his son Sir Percy who took the 2006 Epsom Derby in a pulsating finish. That season was a remarkable one for Mark Of Esteem – he also had the Nunthorpe and Haydock Sprint Trophy winner Reverence.

In his short stud career, Mark Of Esteem sired four G1 winners, and 11 G1 performers, and his name lives on in pedigrees of numerous top horses via his stallion sons Sir Percy and Redback (both of whom were also placed in the 2,000 Guineas) and his broodmare daughters: St Leger winner Masked Marvel, Irish Derby winner Treasure Beach (who was also beaten a head in Pour Moi's Derby), the speedy Amadeus Wolf, and the 2014 French 1,000 Guineas winner Avenir Certain are all out of mares by Mark Of Esteem.

Liam O'Rourke, Darley's Stud Director, said, “Mark Of Esteem was the kindest of horses who was a pleasure to have on the farm. He was born and raised at Kildangan, stood at stud at Dalham Hall and lived out his retirement years in the stallion barn too. We are lucky enough to have some of his nicest daughters and now grand-daughters in our broodmare band. We are pleased he didn't suffer and he will be greatly missed.”