Dubai: Mark Of Esteem, widely regarded as one of the best milers of the mid-nineties, has been euthanised following a short illness at the age of 21.
A homebred by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Mark Of Esteem will be best remembered for his pulsating victories in the English 2,000 Guineas (G1) and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) in 1996.
He was retired to Shaikh Mohammad’s Dalham Hall Stud in 1997 where he sired 2006 Epsom Derby (G1) hero Sir Percy and sprint sensation Reverence, winner of both the Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) and Sprint Cup (G1).
Named Mark Of Esteem for the striking blaze on his head, he was retired from covering duties in 2007 due to declining fertility.
However, he has left an indelible mark In his short stud career having sired four G1 winners, and 11 G1 performers.
His name will be perpetuated via his stallion sons Sir Percy and Redback and his broodmare daughters, St Leger winner Masked Marvel, Irish Derby winner Treasure Beach and the 2014 French 1,000 Guineas winner Avenir Certain.
“I was very sad to hear that Mark Of Esteem had passed away. He was a very special horse for me personally as he was my first 2,000 Guineas winner,” Saeed Bin Surour, who trained Mark Of Esteem to notch three of four career wins said on the Godolphin website.
“He was a brilliant miler and an important horse for the Godolphin team. It is a sad day but we will always remember his victories at Newmarket and Ascot.”
Darley’s stud director Liam O’Rourke said on their website: “Mark Of Esteem was the kindest of horses who was a pleasure to have on the farm. He was born and raised at Kildangan, stood at stud at Dalham Hall and lived out his retirement years in the stallion barn too.
“We are lucky enough to have some of his nicest daughters and now granddaughters in our broodmare band. We are pleased he didn’t suffer and he will be greatly missed.”
Mark Of Esteem impressed on his very first career start when he finished second to multi Group winner Alhaarth before winning a maiden at Glorious Goodwood when trained by the late Sir Henry Cecil.
Transferred to Godolphin as a three-year-old, he won the Guineas (G1), Celebration Mile (G2) and QEII Stakes (G1) where he earned a Timeform rating of 137, the best QEII rating of the nineties and a record that was only bettered by Cecil’s Frankel in 2011.
