Coolmore has paid tribute to Mahler, the 21-year-old National Hunt stallion whose longevity and influence made him one of the defining sires of his era at The Beeches Stud.

A son of Galileo, Mahler carried high-class flat credentials before retirement. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, he developed into a genuine stayer, highlighted by victory in the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot, before confirming his calibre with a runner-up finish in the St Leger and a third in the Melbourne Cup. This toughness and stamina later became a familiar thread through many of his offspring.

Retired to The Beeches, Mahler spent 17 seasons at stud and built a reputation as a source of National Hunt quality - particularly through the point-to-point route, where he was crowned champion point-to-point sire in Ireland twice. His best performers included Grade 1 winners The Real Whacker and Ornua, along with high-class staying chasers such as Chris's Dream and The Big Dog, while Daily Present added a Cheltenham Festival success to his roll of honour.

His impact has also been reflected in the marketplace, most recently when his daughter Dawn Of Light headed the Tattersalls Cheltenham November Sale at £370,000.

In a statement on coolmore.com, Robert McCarthy captured the essence of Mahler's legacy, saying: "Mahler had a wonderful temperament and was a lovely horse to be around. He's been a great servant over the years and will be sadly missed by everyone here at The Beeches, in particular by Yann, who has looked after him so well for the past few years and is absolutely heartbroken."