Group 1 winner and Group 1-winning sire succumbs to battle with illness

Emirates Park is mourning the loss of the horse it described as 'instrumental' to its success following the death of Al Maher.

The New South Wales operation announced late on Monday that the 23-year-old had been euthanised after a short battle with illness.

The son of Danehill and Don't Say Halo mare Dancing Show was one of the first stars on the track for Emirates Park founder H.E. Nasser Lootah, winning the Group 1 Australian Guineas in 2005, before going on to sire the winners of more than $70m in stakes and 39 stakes winners.

"It's a very sad day for our close-knit team at Murrurundi where Al Maher has been a fixture for the best part of for 20 years," Emirates Park general manager Bryan Carlson said.

"He very much became a cornerstone of the operation soon after Emirates Park had safely negotiated its formative period, and has been instrumental in our success ever since.

"Homebred Group 1 winners that in turn sire Group 1 winners rarely come along in any lifetime.

"Al Maher really couldn't have done much more both on and off the track."

Al Maher produced five Group 1 winners with his current star being the Joe Pride-trained Epsom Handicap winner Private Eye, who has also placed in The Everest twice and won more than $10m in stakes.

His other elite-level winners are Australasian Oaks and SA Derby winner Delicacy, Queen Of The Turf winner Diamond Drille, Epsom Handicap hero Fat Al and J J Atkins winner Almalad.