Florida Pearl dies, aged twenty

Outstanding chaser Florida Pearl died on Saturday evening, aged 20, the Irish National Stud said in a statement yesterday.

Formerly trained by Willie Mullins, the Violet O’Leary-owned gelding won the 2001 King George VI Chase at Kempton and a record-breaking four Irish Hennessy Gold Cups.

Florida Pearl had spent the last five years at the Co Kildare-based Irish National Stud, who said he had to be put down due to a rare condition linked to a malignant cancer.