French Guineas runner-up Catcher In The Rye dies at stud aged 19

Catcher In The Rye, the runner-up behind Clodovil in the 2003 Poule d'Essai des Poulains who stood under the Coolmore banner for six seasons, died at Haras la Leyenda in Argentina on Monday at the age of 19.

Bred by Kilfrush Stud, Catcher In The Rye was sold by Knocktoran Stud to Demi O'Byrne, acting on behalf of the Coolmore partners, as an August yearling in Deauville in 2001.

The son of Danehill ran third on debut in Listed company at Leopardstown, where he broke his maiden on his three-year-old reappearance, and got to within a length of Clodovil in the 2003 Poule d'Essai des Poulains on his only other start at three.

Catcher In The Rye stood for five seasons at Castle Hyde Stud and an extra year at Coolmore Stud, before taking up permanent residence in Argentina, where he was crowned leading first-season sire and champion sire twice.

His notable progeny in the northern hemisphere includes first-crop daughter Rosenreihe, the German Oaks winner who went on to produce Deutsches Derby third Rosenpurpur, and second-crop son Ryehill Dreamer, a US Grade 2 winner formerly trained in Ireland by Fozzy Stack.

He first took up residence at Estacion de Montas la Mission in 2006, started shuttling to Haras de la Pomme in 2013, and eventually arrived at Alberto Stein's Haras la Leyenda in 2018.

His southern hemisphere offspring includes champion two- and three-year-old filly Catch The Mad and other multiple Group 1 winners in Argentina including Anaerobio, Flowing Rye and Rabid In The Rye.

Catcher In The Rye when winning at Leopardstown under Mick KinaneCredit: Caroline Norris

Catcher In The Rye was a half-brother to the Group 2 Prix de la Nonette winner Dream Peace, and was one of seven winners out of Canadian Grade 2 scorer Truly A Dream, who also added her name to the Group 3 Prix de Royaumont roll of honour.

Catcher In The Rye boasted a Classic pedigree and shared his granddam, another Royaumont winner in Truly Special, with high-class sibling trio L'Ancresse, Moonstone and Cerulean Sky.

Moonstone - herself successful in the Irish Oaks and second in the Epsom version - produced Derby runner-up US Army Ranger; L'Ancresse took second in the Irish Oaks and Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf; while Cerulean Sky, won the Prix Saint-Alary.

Catcher In The Rye is also making his mark as a broodmare sire, with Never No More winning the Madrid Premier Handicap at the Curragh on Sunday.

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