American superstar Cigar, winner of the inaugural running of the Dubai World Cup in 1996, has died.
The 24-year-old, trained in his glory days by Bill Mott and owned and bred by Allen Paulson, was retired with great fanfare after finishing third in the 1996 Breeders' Cup Classic - a race he had claimed 12 months earlier - but was to prove infertile at stud.
Foaled at Country Life Farm near Bel Air, Maryland, the son of Palace Music was trained by Alex Hassinger jnr in the formative stages of his career and spent his later years at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.
A statement on Country Life Farm's website, www.countrylifefarm.com, said: "Sad day around the world, as we learn that the great Cigar has died in KY.
"Foaled at Country Life on April 18, 1990, he went on to become one of the greatest racehorses of all time, tying Citation's record of 16 consecutive wins. So glad we could be a part of his legacy."
Then a six-year-old, Cigar produced a performance of real guts at Nad Al Sheba to beat the Richard Mandella-trained Soul Of The Matter, announcing himself on to the world stage by overcoming training problems and the effects of a long flight.
Cigar was taking his winning sequence to 14 consecutive victories, and winning rider Jerry Bailey said afterwards: "This was not his best performance but it was his best effort considering what he has had to overcome.
"We went eyeball to eyeball with Soul Of The Matter.
"I was a bit worried but in the end he could have gone around another time and he would not have beaten me."
Mott said at the time: "That is the most he has ever been challenged in the stretch. I often wondered what would happen when another horse looked him in the eye.
"He showed the courage that it takes to become a true champion. He has overcome a lot and this proves how really good he is. He proved what can be done even after travelling halfway round the world."
The previous November, Cigar had thrashed British hope Halling at the Breeders' Cup, where Tom Durkin, the doyen of American race commentators, uttered the iconic line as the post loomed: "and here he is...the unconquerable, invincible, unbeatable Cigar!"
After the World Cup, Mott's superstar extended his run to 16 straight wins, equalling Citation and narrowly failing to set a new mark of 17 when second to Mandella's Dare And Go at Del Mar in the Pacific Classic.
He was named American Horse of the Year in 1995 and 1996 before being inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
