Breeder death a tragic postscript to Cut The Mustard Listed victory

Cut The Mustard's impressive victory in the Opera Hat Mares Chase at Naas on Saturday had a tragic postscript as it emerged after the race that the eight-year-old's breeder and previous owner George Vergette had taken his own life earlier in the week.

Vergette owned and ran the Haras de Faydeau in the Dordogne region of south-west France with his wife Lune and two sons Frank and Rufus.

Among the other talented horses bred or reared by the Vergettes and exported to Britain or Ireland were Cuneo, Dlauro, Poungach, Relax, Sixty Something and Torpillo.

Haras de Faydeau was also a rare French jumps stud to consign to auctions in Britain and Ireland, with its overseas activities including selling an Al Namix two-year-old gelding to Paul Webber for £65,000 at the Doncaster Spring sales in 2015.

Lune Vergette wrote an emotional post on the stud's website on Saturday evening.

“Cut the Mustard bought a ray of sunshine to me, Frank and Rufus today after hacking up in the Listed mares chase at Naas,” it read.

“George, who was my husband for nearly 36 years and father to Frank and Rufus, took his own life in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

“I know he loved us all so much, but he could not come to terms with this dreadful disease, depression, that had plagued him on and off most of his life. He could not understand that it is not a stigma but an illness.

“If anyone reads this and feels low or sad, or you know someone who has gone very quiet, please talk to someone or you talk to them.

“I will not let this horrific disease win and we will be carrying on with the stud as usual.”

Cut The Mustard was bred by the Vergettes by sending their Maresca Sorrento mare Tadorna to Al Namix.

She carried home colours to win bumpers at Morlaix and Nantes in 2016, before being sold to be trained by Willie Mullins for Sullivan Bloodstock.