Gleneagles (horse)
| Gleneagles | |
|---|---|
 Gleneagles at the Curragh after the National Stakes | |
| Sire | Galileo |
| Grandsire | Sadler's Wells |
| Dam | You'resothrilling |
| Damsire | Storm Cat |
| Sex | Colt |
| Foaled | 12 January 2012[1] |
| Country | Ireland |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | You'resothrilling Syndicate |
| Owner | Michael Tabor,Susan Magnier& Derrick Smith |
| Trainer | Aidan O'Brien |
| Record | 10: 7-0-1 |
| Earnings | £934,200 |
| Major wins | |
| Tyros Stakes(2014) Futurity Stakes(2014) National Stakes(2014) Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère(2014, disqualified) 2000 Guineas(2015) Irish 2,000 Guineas(2015) St James's Palace Stakes(2015) | |
| Awards | |
| Cartier Champion Two-year-old Colt(2014) | |
Gleneagles(foaled 12 January 2012) is an IrishThoroughbredracehorse. After finishing fourth on his debut, he finished first in his remaining five races as a two-year-old in 2014 and was namedCartier Champion Two-year-old Colt.He won theTyros Stakes,Futurity StakesandNational Stakesin Ireland before being disqualified after crossing the line in first place in thePrix Jean-Luc Lagardèrein France. On his three-year-old debut he won the2000 Guineasand followed up in theIrish 2,000 Guineasthree weeks later. In June he added a win in theSt James's Palace Stakesat Royal Ascot.
Background
[edit]Gleneagles is abaycoltwith a whiteblazeand four whitesocksbred in Ireland by the You'resothrilling Syndicate. He was sired byGalileo,who won theDerby,Irish DerbyandKing George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakesin 2001. Galileo is now one of the world's leading stallions and has beenchampion sire of Great Britain and Irelandfive times. His other progeny includeCape Blanco,Frankel,Golden Lilac,Nathaniel,New Approach,Rip Van WinkleandRuler of the World.[2]Gleneagles' dam You'resothrilling, a daughter ofStorm Catwas a sister of the leading racehorse and stallionGiant's Causeway.[3]You'resothrilling was trained byAidan O'Brienand won theCherry Hinton Stakesin 2007.[4]Gleneagles is her second foal, the first being theIrish 1,000 GuineaswinnerMarvellous.
During his racing career the colt has been trained byAidan O'BrienatBallydoyle.He is owned by John Magnier's Coolmore Stud partnership (officially Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier and Derrick Smith), usually racing in the blue and orange colours of Michael Tabor.
Racing career
[edit]2014: two-year-old season
[edit]Gleneagles made his first racecourse appearance atLeopardstown Racecourseon 6 June 2014 when he started11/8favourite for amaiden raceover sevenfurlongs.Ridden by Colm O'Donoghue he raced behind the leaders and made little progress in the closing stages, finishing fourth of the ten runners threelengthsbehind the Ger Lyons-trained winner Convergence.Joseph O'Brientook over the ride when the colt contested a similar event over the same distance at theCurraghthree weeks later. Starting favourite against ten opponents, he tracked the leaders before taking the lead approaching the final furlong and winning "comfortably" by two and a half lengths from Stevie's Wonder.[5]On 24 July, over seven furlongs at Leopardown, Gleneagles met Convergence again in theGroup ThreeTyros Stakes, with the only other runner being theDermot Weld-trained Tombelaine. O'Brien positioned the colt in third place before taking the lead a furlong out and winning by three-quarters of a length and a head from Tombelaine and Convergence. Aidan O'Brien said that the winner was "still babyish" and would "improve a good bit".[6]One month later, Gleneagles started 8/13 favourite for the Group Two Futurity Stakes, over seven furlongs at the Curragh. He raced in fourth before moving up on the inside to take the lead a furlong and a half from the finish, went two lengths clear of his opponents, and held the late challenge of Vert de Greece to win by three-quarters of a length.[7]
On 14 September, Gleneagles was moved up to Group One class for Ireland's most prestigious two-year-old race, the National Stakes over seven furlongs at the Curragh. He was made the 1/3 favourite ahead of theAcomb Stakeswinner Dutch Connection. He has restrained by Joseph O'Brien at the rear of the five runner field before making progress on the outside in the last quarter mile. He took the lead a furlong out and extended his advantage to win by one and a half lengths from theGodolphinrepresentative Toscanini, with Dutch Connection a length away in third place. After the race Joseph O'Brien said "He's a lovely horse. He has got plenty of pace and he was very relaxed today."[8]For his final appearance of the season, the colt was sent to France to contest thePrix Jean-Luc LagardèreatLongchamp Racecourseon 5 October. He started the 9/4 second favourite behind the British-trained The Wow Signal, winner of theCoventry Stakesand thePrix Morny.The best of the French runners appeared to beFull Mast,theCriquette Head-trained winner of thePrix La Rochette.Gleneagles raced at the rear of the field before making progress in the straight and accelerating to take the lead 200 metres from the finish and winning by half a length and a short neck from Full Mast and Territories. In the closing stages, however, he had edged to the right, hampering the second and third-placed finishers and, following an enquiry by the racecourse stewards, he was disqualified and placed third. Commenting of the decision, Michael Tabor said "rules are rules. I'm not complaining".[9]
2015: three-year-old season
[edit]Gleneagles had been well-fancied for the2000 Guineasthroughout the winter, but heavy support in the betting market during March 2015 saw him elevated to clear favouritism for the classic.[10]On 2 May Gleneagles, ridden byRyan Moore,started favourite for the 207th running of the 2000 Guineas over the Rowley Mile course atNewmarket.His seventeen opponents included Territories (second favourite after winning thePrix de Fontainebleau), Ol' Man River (Beresford Stakes), Estidhkaar (Champagne Stakes), Ivawood (Richmond Stakes), Kool Kompany (Prix Robert Papin,Craven Stakes) and Home of the Brave (European Free Handicap). The field split into two groups across the wide course, with Gleneagles being restrained by Moore towards the middle of the group on the stands side. He made a forward move in the last quarter mile, took the lead approaching the final furlong and quickly went clear to win by two and a quarter lengths from Territories, with Ivawood taking third ahead of the 50/1 outsider Bossy Guest.[11]O'Brien, who was winning the race for the seventh time said "He's a great traveller and has a lot of speed. He was always very good and quickens very well. Ryan said they couldn't lead him and he ended up getting there early. The big thing about him is pace – he's always shown it".[12]TheIrish 2,000 Guineasand theSt James's Palace Stakeswere suggested as future targets.
On 23 May Gleneagles started 2/5 favourite for the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh. Ivawood was again in opposition along with Belardo, the top-rated European two-year-old of 2014. Ivawood set the pace and led the field into the straight as Moore restrained Gleneagles towards the rear of the eleven-runner field. With two furlongs to run, Moore struggled to find a clear run, but Gleneagles quickened well to overtake Ivawood in the closing stages and won by three-quarters of a length from Endless Drama with Ivawood third and Belardo fourth.[13]After the race Moore reported that the slow ground had "just blunted his pace a bit. He didn't have a lot of room, but he had the gears and the class to go through. He put his head down and fought well at the end".[14]O'Brien made it clear that he regarded Gleneagles as primarily a miler, but he was left among the entries for the Epsom Derby before being withdrawn five days before the race.
Gleneagles reappeared at Royal Ascot on 16 June when he was matched against thePoule d'Essai des Poulainswinner Make Believe in the St James's Palace Stakes atRoyal Ascot.Starting the 8/15 favourite in five runner field, he was restrained by Moore before moving forward on the outside as Consort led the field into the straight. He took the lead a furlong out and drew away to win by two and a half lengths from Latharnach and Consort. Following the colt's victory, O'Brien described him as "the best in the yard at the minute and the best miler we've ever had".[15]Gleneagles was scheduled to face the French championSolowin theSussex Stakesin July, but was withdrawn from the race owing to thesoft ground.Plans to run the colt in theInternational Stakesand then theIrish Champion Stakeswere also abandoned when the ground proved unsuitable.
Gleneagles eventually reappeared after a four-month absence in theQueen Elizabeth II Stakesat Ascot on 17 October. He started the 9/4 second favourite but never looked likely to win and finished sixth of the nine runners behind Solow. After the race O'Brien admitted that he had been very dubious about running the colt, saying "If I had the chance again I wouldn't have run him and I would have waited like last time... We had an eye on theBreeders' Cup Classicand if he was to go there he needed to run so we took a chance... We'll have to take him home and see how he is over the next couple of days ".[16]The horse shipped to the United States to compete for the first time on a dirt track, and drew the number 5 post with morning line odds of 20/1 for the Breeders' Cup Classic.[17]He finished last of the eight runners, 25 lengths behind the winnerAmerican Pharoah.
Assessment and awards
[edit]In November 2014, Gleneagles was namedChampion Two-year-old Coltat theCartier Racing Awards.[18]In the official International Classification for 2014, Gleneagles was given a rating of 116, three pounds behind the top-ratedBelardo.[19]
Stud record
[edit]At the end of his racing career, Gleneagles was retired to become a breeding stallion at the Coolmore Stud.
Notable progeny
[edit]GleneaglesGroup Onewinners:
| Foaled | Name | Sex | Major Wins |
| 2017 | Highland Chief | c | Man o' War Stakes |
| 2018 | Loving Dream | f | Prix de Royallieu |
| 2020 | Mill Stream | c | July Cup |
| 2021 | Palladium | c | Deutsches Derby |
Pedigree
[edit]| Sire Galileo(IRE) b. 1998 |
Sadler's Wells(USA) b. 1981 |
Northern Dancer* b. 1961 |
Nearctic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natalma | |||
| Fairy Bridge b. 1975 |
Bold Reason | ||
| Special | |||
| Urban Sea(USA) ch. 1989 |
Miswaki ch. 1978 |
Mr. Prospector | |
| Hopespringseternal | |||
| Allegretta ch. 1978 |
Lombard | ||
| Anatevka | |||
| Dam You'resothrilling (USA) b. 2005 |
Storm Cat(USA) b. 1983 |
Storm Bird b. 1978 |
Northern Dancer* |
| South Ocean | |||
| Terlingua ch. 1976 |
Secretariat | ||
| Crimson Saint | |||
| Mariah's Storm(USA) b. 1991 |
Rahy ch. 1985 |
Blushing Groom | |
| Glorious Song | |||
| Immense b. 1979 |
Roberto | ||
| Imsodear (Family 11)[3] |
Note: b. =Bay,br. =Brown,ch. =Chestnut
* Gleneagles isinbred3 x 4 to the stallion Northern Dancer, meaning that Northern Dancer appears once in the third generation and once in the fourth generation of his pedigree.
References
[edit]- ^ab"Gleneagles pedigree".Equineline.Retrieved4 June2014.
- ^"Galileo stud record".Racing Post.Retrieved26 May2014.
- ^ab"Sedbury Royal Mare – Family 11".Thoroughbred Bloodlines.Retrieved9 June2014.
- ^"You´resothrilling race record".Racing Post.Retrieved4 June2014.
- ^"Barronstown Stud Maiden result".Racing Post. 29 June 2014.
- ^Lewis Porteous (24 July 2014)."Leopardstown Future looks bright for Gleneagles".Racing Post.Archived fromthe originalon 28 July 2014.
- ^"Futurity Stakes result".Racing Post. 24 August 2014.
- ^Lydia Symonds (14 September 2014)."Gleneagles stakes Classic claims in National Stakes".Racing Post.Archived fromthe originalon 13 November 2014.
- ^Graham Dench (5 October 2014)."Longchamp Gleneagles demoted after Lagardere".Racing Post.Archived fromthe originalon 9 October 2014.
- ^Adrian Lewis (19 March 2015)."Gleneagles slashed for Guineas after big gamble".Racing Post.Archived fromthe originalon 16 August 2015.
- ^"Results From The 3.45 Race At Newmarket – 2 May 2015".Racing Post.
- ^Lydia Symonds."Gleneagles soars to 2 000 Guineas victory".Racing Post.[dead link]
- ^"Irish 2000 Guineas result".Racing Post. 23 May 2015.
- ^"Gleneagles completes 2,000 Guineas double at the Curragh".BBC Sport.
- ^"Gleneagles heads Ryan Moore treble".BBC Sport.
- ^Stuart Riley (17 October 2015)."Solow routs QEII field as Gleneagles flops".Racing Post.Archived fromthe originalon 24 December 2015.
- ^Angst, Frank (26 October 2015)."American Pharoah, Beholder Set for History".The Blood-Horse.Retrieved26 October2015.
- ^Marcus Armytage(11 November 2014)."Cartier Awards 2014: Double top for star miler Kingman".Daily Telegraph.
- ^Lee Mottershead."Dewhurst winner Belardo champion two year old".Racing Post.Archived fromthe originalon 23 January 2015.
External links
[edit]- Career 1-2-3 Colour Chart–Gleneagles