Top sprinter Monsieur Bond dies at Norton Grove Stud aged 19

Monsieur Bond, a high-class sprinter and sire of two Group 1 winners, has died from an illness aged 19.

A bright chestnut son of Danehill Dancer, he raced for three seasons in the colours of Reg Bond for trainer Bryan Smart, placing in the Mill Reef and Two-Year-Old Trophy before finishing sixth behind Refuse To Bend in the 2,000 Guineas.

When dropped back to shorter distances he gained Group 3 honours in the Gladness Stakes at the Curragh, and earned his most notable victory in the Group 2 Duke of York Stakes.

The Bond family maintained an interest in his stallion career and he spent five seasons at Whitsbury Manor Stud before moving to Norton Grove, the North Yorkshire operation run by Richard and Maggie Lingwood.

Monsieur Bond's progeny have won more than 500 races worldwide, with the undoubted highlight being the Prix de l'Abbaye wins secured by Gilt Edge Girl and Move In Time.

Bond's son, Charlie, said: "He's a sad loss to the family and Norton Grove Stud.

"He was very well looked after at the stud by Richard and Maggie, he had a very good home for his stallion career.

"I don't think many sires have won two Abbayes, and Bryan trained him into a fantastic racehorse who won at Group 2 level.

"He'll be sadly missed by all of us, and because we have a breeding operation, Bond Thoroughbred Corporation."

As a stallion, he had been available at £2,800 for this year and Charlie Bond said he had been a valuable asset to his family's business.

"We've had plenty of his, including Ladies Are Forever, who we bred, and she went on to win three Group 3s at York, our home track. He also sired Hoof It, who was placed in a Group 1.

"Coming from racing, he used to bite quite a bit, but when he got into his stallion career it settled him down. He was certainly a character - very intelligent when people were around him.

"He was at Malton, which was only 30 minutes away for myself and Dad, and we used to pop in and see him quite a bit."

More news...

Brilliantly bred Vatican City breaks maiden at Dundalk for Aidan O'Brien

Shantaram off to perfect start as first runner wins Fakenham bumper on debut

Foal crop in Britain and Ireland declines by two per cent year on year