Juddmonte suffers the loss of Laurel

Owner-breeders Juddmonte has suffered a significant loss with the sudden death of their promising mare, Laurel, due to a fatal heart attack.

Laurel, a daughter of Kingman, was runner-up in the 2022 Sun Chariot after winning her first two starts. Last season, she made a successful return to Listed company but was sidelined for the rest of the year following a disappointing performance in the Lockinge at Newbury.

She made an encouraging comeback from a year-long absence by finishing second behind stablemate Running Lion in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. Laurel was being prepared for a Group One race in France when she suffered a heart attack during a recent gallop.

"She was a fantastic filly, and we believed her best days were ahead of her, as John Gosden always considered her a Group One candidate," said Barry Mahon, Juddmonte’s European racing manager. 

"After missing most of last season due to injury, her promising return at Ascot had us really excited. Unfortunately, she had a heart attack on the gallop before she could make it to the Prix Jean Romanet. It’s a tragic loss, though we are grateful that her jockey and the team were unharmed."