Haunui Farm has announced its Group 1 Australian Guineas winner Ferlax has died after sustaining a paddock injury on Thursday.

“We are quite devastated,” Haunui’s managing director Mark Chitty said.  “We were privileged to stand Ferlax on behalf of his owner Jonathan Munz.  For something like this to happen before he’s even had a yearling go through the ring is pretty tough.

“In the end, the decision was taken to euthanize Ferlax on Saturday morning.

“The quality of his two crops we have on the ground and the one to come will see some very good racehorses in the years to come.  Jonathan put his full support behind the New Zealand industry by choosing to stand Ferlax here and we can ill-afford to lose such as promising young stallion.”

Ferlax (Pentire – Legs Akimbo by Marscay) represented the perfect outcross for the Australasian broodmare pool being completely free of Danehill and Sir Tristram blood.  He was bred by Rich Hill Stud and cost leading Melbourne owner Jonathon Munz $180,000 at the 2011 NZB Karaka Sale.

After winning his first three starts at the Victorian provincials, Ferlax maintained his unbeaten record in the Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington.  He has been laid to rest overseeing the parade ring at Haunui Farm.

FARLAX