Top Marc died suddenly at Queensland’s Racetree stud on Tuesday.  The Canadian Silver sire won the Listed Glasshouse Handicap at the Sunshine Coast before retiring to the Innisplain property in 2007.

“One minute he was here and the next moment gone,” Racetree owner Kevin Dixon said.  “We believe it was a heart aneurism.  It’s a sad day for all here at Racetree.”

Top Marc (Canadian Silver – Prime Page by Best Western) was regarded as one of the toughest horses to race in the Sunshine State in the past decade.   He was trained by Kelly Schweida to win 12 wins and $418,000 in prizemoney.  The gallant grey won from two years to seven years, from 1000m to 1800m and handled any sort of track conditions.

“He was a tough old bugger,” Schweida said.  “But was also the best natured entire I’ve ever seen.”

Top Marc’s oldest are current season two year-olds.  He served a total of 72 mares at a $3,300 fee in his first three years at Racetree.