Barathea, the 1994 Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. IT) winner, was euthanized May 14 at Liam Cashman’s Rathbarry Stud in Fermoy, Ireland, because of complications from laminitis. The 19-year-old, Irish-bred son of Sadler's Wells was buried at the farm.
“His condition had gotten very bad in the last couple days,” said a farm representative. “He was euthanized for humane reasons because he was in a lot of pain.”
Barathea raced for his breeder, Gerald Leigh, and Sheikh Mohammed. When Barathea was a foal, Leigh sold a 75% interest in Barathea to the sheikh.
Barathea’s victory in the Mile came at the expense of odds-on favorite Lure, who was gunning for his third consecutive triumph in the race. The fourth choice, at 10-1, Barathea, trained by Luca Cumani, scored by three lengths over French-bred Johann Quatz in what was his final start. The time, 1:34.50, was a course record at Churchill Downs. Lure, who was within striking distance near the top of the stretch, finished ninth.
Barathea was the champion 3-year-old miler in both England and Ireland in 1993 and was Cartier’s Horse of the Year and top older horse in 1994. He won the 1993 Airlie Coolmore Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-I) and the 1994 Queen Anne Stakes (Eng-II). He was retired with five wins from 16 starts and earnings of $1,189,181.
As a stallion, Barathea is represented by 84 stakes winners, including 2000 Cartier Award-winning 2-year-old male Tobougg and North American graded winners Always First, Blue Steller, One Off, and Siringas.
Barathea was produced from the French group I-winning Habitat mare Brocade, whose first foal, Free At Last, was a graded stakes winner in the United States.