'He will forever remain in a special place with us' - Irish Champion Stakes winner Economics dies of colic in India

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The 2024 Irish Champion Stakes winner, Economics, has died in India at the age of five due to colic. 

The son of Night Of Thunder had been sold to stand at Poonawalla Stud Farms following his eighth-place finish in the Champion Stakes at Ascot in October. 

Trained by William Haggas for Shaikh Isa Salman Al Khalifa, Economics was a six-length winner of the Dante Stakes at York on just his third start. After connections decided to bypass a tilt at the Derby, the chestnut returned to land a second Group 2 in the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville. 

His career highlight came when landing the Irish Champion Stakes, defeating dual Derby hero and Breeders' Cup Turf victor Auguste Rodin, as well as Irish Derby winner Los Angeles and the top-class Luxembourg. 

As a result of that win, Economics moved into the top five of the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2024 and was nominated for the Cartier Horse of the Year and Three-Year-Old Colt awards.

But Economics ran just twice more, when down the field in the last two runnings of the Champion Stakes at Ascot.

Poonawalla's managing director Simone Poonawalla said: "Economics had colic which required surgery to correct a large colon displacement. Without surgery we were told that he wouldn’t get out of it. He came out of the surgery well but the hypoxic injury the gut sustained due to this displacement unfortunately resulted in him developing colitis post surgery. Despite our best efforts and the best veterinary care, he could not be saved.

Economics romps home in the Dante at YorkCredit: Edward Whitaker

"I've never seen a horse so strong and brave even through these agonising days of hope and despair. This is the first time we’ve lost a stallion to colic since 1955, which makes this even more devastating. We are devastated. This is not just a loss of a brilliant racehorse who had all the makings of becoming a top stallion, but a deeply personal loss to us. 

"We've laid him to rest with the most dignified burial he so rightfully deserves, and he will forever remain in a special place with us."

Tom Marquand, who partnered Economics in six of his seven starts, posted on social media: "Very sad news about an extremely special horse to a lot of people. He rewarded everybody’s work and passion with an exceptional day in Ireland, winning the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes."

A statement from Haggas's Somerville Lodge Stables on Instagram said: "We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of the talented and courageous Economics. It was a privilege to train such a wonderful horse with a big heart, who always gave his all and demonstrated this in many of his successes.

"Economics meant a great deal to the team who cared for him every day and played a part in his journey at Somerville Lodge. We send our heartfelt condolences to all involved, especially the Poonawalla family and their team, who had so little time to know him."

 Economics was bred by Copgrove Hall Stud out of the dual Group 2-winning Peintre Celebre mare La Pomme D'Amour.

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