King George hero Silviniaco Conti dies after team

King George hero Silviniaco Conti dies after team chasing accident





Silviniaco Conti, twice a winner of the King George VI Chase in 2013 and 2014, has died after suffering an accident while team chasing, his former trainer Paul Nicholls reported on Monday.

The 12-year-old, who had made a successful transition to his new career after retiring at the end of last season, was injured at an event on Sunday.

Nicholls said: "I'm really upset to report that Silviniaco Conti has died following an accident while team chasing on Sunday.

"He was a brilliant horse with great scope and won seven Grade 1 chases for us, including the King George VI in successive years, and also six Grade 2 chases."

Silviniaco Conti and Noel Fehily return in triumph after landing the 2013 King George VI Chase at Kempton
Silviniaco Conti and Noel Fehily return in triumph after landing the 2013 King George VI Chase at Kempton
Edward Whitaker
Nicholls, writing on his Betfair blog, added: "Conti was a classy chaser who was at the top for six years and took over the mantle as stable star following the retirements of Kauto Star, Denman, Master Minded and Big Buck's.

"He won over £1.152 million in prize-money for his owners Chris Giles and Sullivan Bloodstock before enjoying his new life in retirement with Charlotte Alexander near Stow-on-the-Wold over the past year.

"The initial diagnosis at the vets on Monday suggested he would be fine, but unfortunately he took a turn for the worse and died early this afternoon."

As a team chaser Silviniaco Conti had already progressed from novice to open classes and was among a collection of former jumpings stars to take part in the Retraining of Racehorses parade during the Cheltenham Festival.

Racing Post

Sad RIP