Australian superstar Black Caviar has died at the age of 18.

A winner of all 25 of her career starts, was humanely euthanized at an equine hospital in New South Wales Aug. 17, shortly after giving foal to a Snitzel colt.

Trained by Peter Moody to win 15 group 1s, the daughter of Bel Esprit most notably made a successful foray to Royal Ascot in 2012 when landing the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (G1) in front of Queen Elizabeth II. Black Caviar was crowned the European champion sprinter the same year as her victory at the royal meeting.
Black Caviar amassed nearly $7.5 million in earnings before her retirement from the track in April 2013. She went on to undertake broodmare duties and died after a short battle with laminitis, the inflammation of the sensitive tissue known as laminae in a horse’s hoof.
Black Caviar captured the imagination of the Australian public, demonstrated when thousands gathered to watch her Royal Ascot win at Federation Square in Melbourne—a venue normally used for people to watch the Socceroos at the World Cup—shortly before midnight.

“You don’t think it affects you,” Moody added. “But you are being stupid not to think it doesn’t. It’s impossible not to get attached to most animals let alone one like her. I sat in the car and cried for an hour. I rang all the staff and told them. They were all very upset.”

Bought for approximately $197,337 as a yearling at the 2008 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, Black Caviar made a successful debut under Jarrad Noske in a 2-year-old handicap at Flemington in April 2009 before landing the Blue Sapphire Classic Stakes the following month.

Black Caviar would then be partnered by Luke Nolen for much of her remaining starts, with the exception of the first of her two Victoria Racing Club Stakes (G1) successes in 2010, when she was ridden by Ben Melham.