The Green Monkey, who brought a world-record $16 million at auction in 2006 but earned a miniscule fraction of that back on the racetrack and at stud, was euthanized at the age of 14 due to complications from laminitis during the spring at Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds in Ocala, Florida. The Paulick Report first reported the news late Sunday.
In a bidding war between Coolmore and Darley at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton Calder Select Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, Demi O’Byrne of Coolmore wound up signing the record ticket for the son of Forestry, who Hartley/DeRenzo had consigned after purchasing the colt for $425,000 at the 2005 Fasig-Tipton July Select Yearling Sale. The colt had worked one furlong in :9 4/5 at the under tack show.
The $16 million bid easily eclipsed the previous record of $5.2 million for a two-year-old, a Tale of the Cat colt purchased by Darley at the previous year’s Calder sale. It was also a world record price for any horse sold at public auction, besting the $13.1 million brought by Seattle Dancer at the 1985 Keeneland July Select Yearling Sale.
Named after a golf course in Barbados owned by several Coolmore principals, The Green Monkey was sidelined in the latter half of his two-year-old year and the first half of his three-year-old season due to infirmities. He made just three starts for trainer Todd Pletcher, finishing a distant third in his debut at Belmont Park and then fourth in his final two starts, one at Belmont and the other at Hollywood Park on turf. He earned a mere $10,440.
Coolmore sold a half-interest in The Green Monkey to Hartley/De Renzo upon his retirement. He sired just 42 foals, with his only stakes winner in the U.S. being Kinz Funky Monkey. The Green Monkey also sired Canadian stakes winner Green Doctor; Green Money, a champion in Puerto Rico; and Panamanian Triple Crown winner Monkey Business.
Bred by Padua Stable in Florida, The Green Monkey was produced by Magical Masquerade, an Unbridled half-sister to multiple Grade 2 winner Magicalmysterycat. The Green Monkey’s second dam was multiple Grade 2 winner Nannerl, and he was from the family of multiple Grade 1 winner Fact Finder.
