Desert Crown, the effortless victor of last year's Epsom Derby, had to be euthanized due to a devastating injury sustained during training in August.

Despite a promising start, his racing career was plagued by setbacks. His final race in this year's Brigadier Gerard Stakes ended his unbeaten streak, and he was forced to skip the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes due to a minor issue.

Tragically, his condition worsened while preparing for the Juddmonte International at York, where he fractured a fetlock. Despite extensive efforts to save him, Desert Crown lost the battle at the Newmarket Equine Hospital. Philip Robinson, assistant racing manager to owner Saeed Suhail, expressed profound sadness and emphasized the horse's exceptional qualities, particularly his memorable Derby triumph.