New Zealand farm Grangewilliam Stud on Monday announced the death of Melbourne Cup-winning sire Zed.
The 22-year-old, who is best-known as the sire of 11-time Group 1 winner and 2021 Melbourne Cup heroine Verry Elleegant, was euthanised after battling a severe case of colic.
“He suffered a bout of colic and the only option was surgery,” Grangewilliam Stud principal Mark Corcoran said.
“At his age, we just didn’t want to do that to him and unfortunately, we made the decision to euthanise him.”
The son of Zabeel raced just four times, with his only win coming in a 1600m maiden at Hastings, before initially standing at Little Avondale Stud prior to joining Grangewilliam Stud in 2013.
In between, Zed spent time serving Clydesdale mares.
The move to Grangewilliam reinvigorated Zed, who produced 187 individual winners, none better than Verry Elleegant.
A year before winning the Melbourne Cup (3200m) she won the Caulfield Cup (2400m), having also taken out two Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m), Winx Stakes (1400m), George Main Stakes (1600m), Turnbull Stakes (2000m), Ranvet Stakes (2000m), Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m), Tancred Stakes (2400m) and Australian Oaks (2400m).
Zed’s other Group 1 winners were 2013 Makfi Challenge Stakes (1400m) winner Survived and Ladies Man, who won last year’s Livamol Classic (2040m).
He was also the sire of grand jumper Zed Em, winner of the Grand Annual Steeplechase.
“He’s certainly been a great ambassador for Grangewilliam and having a superstar like Verry Elleegant put us in the spotlight,” Corcoran said.
“Zed has left us with many special memories. My family and local friends will all fondly remember sharing the excitement we had in our garden during COVID cheering Verry Elleegant home to win the Melbourne Cup.
“He’s kept the mares coming in the front gate over the years and kept us going through some tough times and we’re in a place now where we’ve got some really nice stallions around us and a lot of that is thanks to Zed.”