Mountain Angel was having his final gallop in preparation for the G2 York Stakes this morning when he very sadly suffered a fatal injury.
At the age of six Mountain Angel posted a career best on what turned out to be his only start this season when storming to victory in the Wolferton Stakes (Listed) at Royal Ascot and he will be fondly remembered as a hugely talented and consistent performer who always gave his all.
Mountain Angel stretching clear of the field in front of the empty grandstand at Royal Ascot (June 2020)
In 23 career starts Mountain Angel was the winner of five races and he was placed on a further eleven occasions. He continued to climb the ranks throughout his career beginning handicaps on a mark of 80 and ending on a high of 113 following his emphatic success at Royal Ascot this season.
He was a wide-margin winner of his maiden at three before showing his liking for Ascot with an impressive victory on his seasonal reappearance at four in a 1m Apprentice Handicap. He ran decent races in defeat throughout the rest of the 2018 season, but it was in 2019 that he really made his mark as a high class performer.
On his seasonal reappearance he won the famous City And Suburban Handicap at Epsom before returning a month later to take the spoils once again in the Class 2 ten furlong handicap on Oaks Day.
Winning the City And Suburban Hcp at Epsom (April 2019)
Winning the Investec Hcp on Oaks Day at Epsom (May 2019)
Having proved himself at the top end of the handicap ranks Mountain Angel earned his place in stakes company and very nearly made all in the G3 Prix Gontaut-Biron at Deauville and the G2 Prix Dollar at Longchamp finishing a close second in both races.
His fearless running style was admirable and when he encountered his preferred soft ground he was a force to be reckoned with. He will be fondly remembered by everyone at Carlburg Stables and our thoughts are with his owner Mr Ziad Galadari, his groom Mark Whitehead and all those connected with the horse.
Mountain Angel and his groom Mark Whitehead