A stallion described as a kind and gentle soul, and a leading international Grade 1 winner producing sire, Avontuur’s Danehill son Oratorio has sadly moved on to his forever paddock in the sky after a heart wrenching decision to put him out of his suffering by Pippa Mickleburgh and her team on Thursday afternoon.
Sad farewell – Oratorio today with Berthwell Arosi and Pippa Mickleburgh (Pic – Supplied)
Oratorio was 23 years old.
“What a gentleman and an equine athlete of the highest order. We grew to love him over the twelve years since his arrival from Australia. But a repeat of the laminitis that he suffered from seven years ago forced us to make a decision no horse lover ever wants to face. He left us peacefully in dignity, and he is suffering no more. His memory will remain with us forever and his legacy lives on at Avontuur and throughout South Africa through his daughters,” an emotional Avontuur GM Pippa Mickleburgh told the Sporting Post.
Oratorio stood his first season at stud in the magnificent environs of Avontuur Stud in South Africa in 2013 after being acquired from Coolmore.
A handsome laid-back athlete, he was an outstandingly versatile racehorse, winning from 1200m to 2000m in UK , Ireland and France.
A Champion 2yo Colt in France, Champion 3yo Colt in Ireland, Oratorio was at his most effective at 2000m.
A Gr1 winning 2yo, Oratorio was also a dual Gr1 winner of the Eclipse Stakes and Irish Champion Stakes at 3. This is the double completed by the illustrious likes of So You Think and champion sires Sadler’s Wells and Giant’s Causeway.
In the stallion barn, Oratorio’s global achievements are mostly unmatched by counterparts on SA soil – he celebrated 9 international Gr1 winners, 77 Stakes Performers, and 20 Group winners including Hong Kong Horse Of The Year Military Attack.
Oratorio’s best-performed SA progeny include exported dual Gr1 winner Van Halen, Gr1 winner Canadian Summer, Gr3 winning Gr1 placer Ultra Magnus, the lightning-fast Gr2 placed Chantyman, Gr2 winner Divine Odyssey, Gr2 winner Love Bomb, multiple Gr2 winner Mardi Gras, and a host of other stakes winners from 1000m to 2400m, which reflects his enormous versatility.
He will continue to make his mark as a broodmare sire, both locally and abroad.
“I have been in this wonderful industry all of my life and it never gets any easier. Our horses and their unique characters are woven into the fabric of our lives. They are our best friends. I feel like I have lost one today. Rest in peace O,” said Pippa.
RIP: Oratorio (Danehill – Mahrah)
2001 – 2025
