Death of Group 1 racehorse and sire Helenus

Widely-travelled stallion Helenus has died from complications during surgery.  He was 13.

Under the guidance of Sunspeed breeder Trevor Delroy, he stood at Heytesbury Stud and Alwyn Park in WA before transferring to Woodside Park (Vic) in 2010 and Wattle Grove (NSW) the following year.

Delroy’s Group 1 homebreds Cedarberg (BMW Stakes) and Ethiopia (Australian Derby) have been the pick of his five stakes winners.  The brothers Durnford (LR Mornington Cup Prelude) and Ulundi (LR Lord Stakes) have also won stakes races for .Delroy and trainer Pat Carey.

Helenus (Helissio – Worldwide Elsie by Java Gold) cost $80,000 at the 2001 Inglis Easter yearling sale and was the best Australian bred galloper sired by Helissio while the Arc de Triomphe winner shuttled to Widden Stud.

Trained by Leon Corstens for Dr Josh Xipell, he was the champion of his generation winning the G1 Caulfield Guineas, Victoria Derby and Rosehill Guineas.  Helenus returned as a spring four-year-old but failed to fire and, despite a stable switch to Bart Cummings, was retired after running last to Lonhro in the 2003 G1 Caulfield Stakes.