Dual Grade 1 winner and star sire Gemix dies at 14 after accident at stud

Gemix, the dual Grade 1-winning hurdler and rising National Hunt stallion, has died following an accident at Haras du Lion, near Angers, where he was standing his third season.

The 14-year-old son of Carlotamix won 12 of his 34 starts for the Nicolas Bertran de Balanda yard in a stellar career highlighted by back-to-back victories in the Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil.

He retired to stud in 2015, initially to Haras de Victot before his switch to Haras du Lion two years ago.

In a statement his devastated co-owner Francis Teboul revealed that Gemix had suffered severe spinal injuries in an accident on Wednesday morning and that the extent of the damage was so grave that he could not be saved.

Teboul paid a touching and heartfelt tribute to the chestnut stallion, describing him as "the horse of a lifetime".

He said: “Gemix will always have a place in our hearts, he has gone from us too soon and we would have liked to have offered him more.

“Thank you Gemix, for what you were, what you brought us and what you made possible. Thank you also Gemix for this wonderful human adventure; we want especially on this day to remember and pay our respects to all the people who take care of our horses with such love and dedication.”

Gemix was a dual winner of the Grade 1 Grande Course de Haies d'AuteuilCredit: Haras du Lion

Francois Thomas, sales and nominations manager at Haras du Lion, expressed his sorrow at the sudden and unexpected passing of a champion who was loved by all at the farm.

He said: “Our thoughts especially are with Gemix’s owners Francis Teboul and Michel Haski, Alix Vanhaecke, who began his wonderful career, Roland Monnier, who crafted his early productions, his former trainer Nicolas Bertran de Balanda and also his jockey David Cottin, who was a key witness to the passing of the flame from Gemix to his son Le Berry."

Cottin, now one of the leading jumps trainers in France, has guided Le Berry, a first-crop son of Gemix, to ten wins in 13 starts including the Grade 1 Prix Maurice de Gillois.

Gemix is also the sire of Listed Prix Gerald de Rochefort winner Fureur De Vivre and the Listed Prix Finot second Gemystory. The grandson of Linamix covered around 180 mares during his first two seasons at Haras du Lion.

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