Etti Plesch, Raced Miswaki and Sassafras, Dead

Etti Plesch, who campaigned Sassafras and Miswaki, died in Monte Carlo, according to the Racing Post. She was 89.

Plesch and her late husband, Arpad, won the 1970 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with champion Sassafras, whose victory ended the unbeaten streak of the great Nijinsky II. Sassafras' earlier wins included scores in the Prix Royal-Oak (the French St. Leger by way of disqualification) and Prix du Jockey-Club (French Derby ).

Etti Plesch's stakes winners following her husband's death in 1974 included 1980 Epsom Derby (Eng-I) winner and champion Henbit, plus U.S./European stakes winner Miswaki. A son of Mr. Prospector, Miswaki was a group I winner in France and a stakes winner at Belmont Park. Miswaki stands at stud at John T.L. Jones Jr.'s Walmac International, and his 88 stakes winners include 1991 Horse of the Year Black Tie Affair.

Plesch, born Countess Maria Wurmbrand-Stuppach, took her surname from her sixth and last husband. The couple started in racing in 1954 and five years later won the Irish Oaks with champion Discorea and the Coronation Cup with Nagami. In 1961, they won the Epsom Derby with Psidium, who was bred by Etti Plesch.The Plesches later campaigned such prominent runners as 1968 Prix du Jockey-Club winner Tapalque and 1970 champion English sprinter Amber Rama.

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