Champion South African stallion Jet Master has died from complications of the West Nile virus.

Jet Master (Rakeen) sired many local champions and a number of runners who made their mark in Group races abroad.  His long list of superior progeny includes Pocket Power, J J The Jet Plane, River Jetez and Mythical Flight.

Jet Master was a champion racehorse in his own right winning 8 Group 1 events including the Argus Guineas, Queens’s Plate (twice) and Golden Spur (twice) for trainer Tony Millard and owners Henry and Patricia Devine.

He retired to Highlands Stud in 2001 and moved to Klipdrift Stud a year later.  His first crop produced 59 winners with 16 stakes winners among them.

He became South Africa’s champion sire for the first time in 2007, a position he has held ever since.

West Nile Virus is widespread in South Africa and most horses will never exhibit any clinical symptoms.  Of those that do, approximately one-third develop severe disease and die or are so affected that euthanasia is required.