Cambridge studmaster Simms Davison said he had been left devastated by the
freak accident that claimed the life of the Fastnet Rock stallion on Thursday
afternoon."He was outside his box when he reared up and slipped over and whacked his head when he came down. He just lost his balance and that was it.
"For a young studmaster it's a bitter pill to swallow - there's a lot of sweat and tears goes into these horses. I'm just gutted."
Atlante retired to Mapperley Stud in 2015 and Davison said the feedback on his first crop of foals had been hugely encouraging.
"He's been leaving some great types, it's just heart breaking."
A son of the Group-performed More Than Ready mare Readyforcatherine, Atlante began his career with Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman and at his fourth start he won the Listed Canterbury Stakes before he triumphed next time out in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas.
He subsequently placed in the Gr.2 Hobartville Stakes during a Sydney autumn campaign before joining John, Michael and Wayne Hawke's stable.
Atlante won the Listed Chandler Macleod Stakes and subsequently returned to Baker and Forsman for one more appearance before his retirement to Mapperley. - NZ Racing Desk.
