Black Caviar’s dam Helsinge has died at Gilgai Farm in Nagambie after an adverse reaction to medication.

Helsinge (Desert Sun) produced world-champion sprinter Black Caviar, Group 1 winning sprinter-miler All Too Hard and stakes performer Moshe.  The influential 15 year-old broodmare was carrying a positive to Written Tycoon and her last living foal is unraced 3yo filly Brigite (Casino Prince).

Owned by Rick Jamieson, she was named Australian Broodmare Of The Year and her offspring topped the Sydney Easter yearling sale three years in a row.

Bloodstock agent Peter Ford purchased Helsinge as an unnamed 3yo at a Sydney Inglis Sale in 2005.  “She got back to the farm and Rick put his finger on a map of Scandinavia and it landed on the village of Helsinge,” Ford recalled.  “It’s been an amazing ride through Black Caviar and All Too Hard.

“It’s a privilege to have been involved and to find a mare like her was amazing.  I don’t think we will see a horse do what Black Caviar did and it’s just a tragedy for Rick and Australian breeding in general.”