Group 1 winning stallion Intergaze has died at Norman Park Stud aged 22.

Norman Park owner Denis Doble stood him at Cooyal before relocating south to new premises on 70 acres just outside Cowra last year.

Intergaze (Integra) initially retired to Widden Stud and he sired three stakes winners headed by G3 Coongy Hcp winner Maybe Better.  The Brian Mayfield-Smith stayer did best of the local brigade when placed in the 2006 Melbourne Cup behind Japanese raiders Delta Blues and Pop Rock.

Fertile and in fine fettle until near the end, Intergaze covered 11 mares at a $3,300 (inc gst) last year.  His winning strike-rate with colts neared 60% and his progeny earnings are over $10 million.

But his sire stats faded in comparison with a racing career that garnered 8 Group 1 victories for trainer Rod Craig and jockey Craig Carmody.  His first at the elite level came in the 1996 Champagne Stakes at Randwick and he signed off with an all-the-way win over Arena in the 2000 Australian Cup at Flemington.

His finest hour came at three when he spoiled the farewell party for crowd favourite Octagonal in the 1997 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick.  “He also beat Might And Power, Sunline and Tie The Knot,” Craig recalled.  “He was a wonderful horse and was a part of the family.”

INTERGAZE