Irish champion Refuse To Bend, who was standing at Haras du Logis in France for the first time this season, died of a heart attack Friday, Feb. 10. He was 12.
Bred in Ireland by Moyglare Stud Farm and a half brother to Toohey’s New Melbourne Cup (Aus-I) winner Media Puzzle, Refuse To Bend (Sadler's Wells—Market Slide, by Gulch) won the Aga Khan Studs National Stakes (Ire-I) at 2 and was an Irish champion at 3 for Moyglare. His major win as a 3-year-old came in the Sagitta Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I).
Refuse To Bend was purchased privately by Sheikh Mohammed and transferred to trainer Saeed bin Suroor for his 4-year-old campaign. Racing for Godolphin, he captured the Queen Anne Stakes (Eng-I) and the Coral Eclipse Stakes (Eng-I).
Refuse To Bend was retired to Kildangan Stud in 2005. His 17 stakes winners include champion 3-year-old filly Sarafina, who won the three group I stakes including the Prix de Diane (French Oaks). Refuse To Bend’s other stakes winners include German champion Neon Light.
Darley’s director of stallions, Sam Bullard, said, “Refuse To Bend’s death will be a significant loss for breeders and Haras du Logis and to Darley. He was a superb racehorse, and he had it all ahead of him as a stallion.”