David Junior (horse)

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David Junior
Sire
Dubai Duty Free (2006)
Eclipse Stakes
(2006)
Last updated on June 22, 2007

David Junior is a retired

2005-06 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings.[1]

Background

David Junior was bred by

David Sullivan.[3] Sullivan, who runs his horses under the name of Roldvale Ltd, named the chestnut colt in honour of his son,[3] and sent him into training in England with Brian Meehan. At that time, Meehan was training at Lambourn
.

Racing career

2004: two-Year-Old Season

David Junior had a brief two-year-old career, beginning with a third place in a maiden race at Thirsk in September 2004. Two weeks later he appeared in a similar event at Ascot and led from the start to record his first win despite running "green".[4]

2005: three-Year-Old Season

David Junior's 2005 debut brought a significant rise in class, as he was sent straight for the

2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. Starting a complete outsider at 100-1, he finished unplaced, finishing eleventh of the nineteen runners, beaten less than five lengths by Footstepsinthesand. A move up in trip followed in the listed Fairway Stakes at Newmarket, where David Junior took the lead two furlongs out and pulled clear to win by eight lengths from a field that included the future Group One winner Linngari.[5] Less than two weeks later, he appeared in another listed event, the Fink Gala Stakes at Sandown and was "impressive", winning by five lengths despite being eased down in the closing stages.[6] Brought back to a mile (and back up to Group One) he made little impression in the Sussex Stakes, finishing seventh behind Proclamation. He then disappointed when finishing second at odds-on in the Group Three Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock
.

At this point, David Junior was rated 115. Ridden for the first time by his new regular jockey,

Cartier Award-winning filly Pride, with major winners such as Rakti, Alexander Goldrun, Alkaased, Oratorio and Maraahel amongst the beaten horses.[8] The surprising nature of the result led to David Junior's win being received with "barely a cheer" from the crowd.[9] Even his trainer, Brian Meehan, seemed to be unprepared for his colt's win and commented, "What can you say? It may be a surprise, but it's now in the form book".[10]

2006: four-Year-Old Season

Rather than being aimed at one of the major races at the end of the calendar year, David Junior was given a winter break, during which time

David Sullivan turned down what he described as a "monstrous, monstrous offer" for his horse.[11] In February, he was transferred from Lambourn to Meehan's new base at Manton, Wiltshire.[12][13]

Less than a month later, the colt was sent to the

Dubai Duty Free at Nad Al Sheba. The race attracted a strong international field, with runners from the UAE, the USA (The Tin Man), Hong Kong (Bullish Luck), Australia (Fields of Omagh), South Africa and Japan. David Junior was sent up to take the lead a furlong and a half from home and pulled away to win by three and a half lengths from The Tin Man.[14]

His summer campaign back in England consisted of two races. The field for the

European and North American Champion mare Ouija Board, the Dubai World Cup winner Electrocutionist and the future World Champion Manduro, but David Junior was made the 11-8 favourite. He made a challenge in the straight but hung badly to the right, and despite staying on well, finished only fourth behind Ouija Board.[15]

In the Eclipse Stakes a little over two weeks later David Junior produced his best performance in Europe, despite rumours that he had been working poorly at home.[16] He was held in last place by Jamie Spencer, as the race was led by his stable companion, Royal Alchemist, who had been bought a few days earlier to act as a pacemaker. In the straight, he produced what the BBC's correspondent described as a "dramatic finishing burst"[17] to accelerate past the field and win by a length and a half from Notnowcato, with Ouija Board a further two and a half lengths back in fifth. Meehan commented on the performance by saying, "Today is a great day... he is a seriously good horse".[18]

David Junior did not race for the next four months, despite expectations that he would run in the Irish Champion Stakes in September.[19] In October, it became clear that he would be retired at the end of the season, and it was reported that Sullivan was considering an offer of $8,000,000 for the colt[20] from Japanese breeders, which he eventually accepted.

David Junior's final race was the Breeders' Cup Classic, which ended in disappointment, as he failed to cope with the dirt at Churchill Downs and finished tailed-off behind Invasor.[21]

Assessment

In the 2005 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings, David Junior was assessed at 123,[22] making him the fourteenth best horse in the world, and the world's joint-best performer on turf in the Intermediate division. He repeated his 123 rating and fourteenth place in the rankings for 2006.[23] In the ratings for 2005-6, which excluded most horses trained in North America and Europe, he was placed second, equal with Electrocutionist and Heart's Cry, behind the Australian mare Makybe Diva.[1]

Stud career

On his retirement, David Junior was transferred to Japan for stud duties by his new owners, the

Iburi Stallion Station in 2010.[24]

Pedigree

Pedigree of David Junior (USA), chestnut stallion, 2002
Sire
Pleasant Tap (USA)
1987 		Pleasant Colony
1978 		His Majesty Ribot
Flower Bowl
Sun Colony Sunrise Flight
Colonia
Never Knock
1979　 		Stage Door Johnny Prince John
Peroxide Blonde
Never Hula Never Bend
Hula Hula
Dam
Paradise River (USA)
1994 		Irish River
1976　 		Riverman Never Bend
River Lady
Irish Star Klairon
Botany Bay
North of Eden
1983 		Northfields Northern Dancer
Little Hut
Tree of Knowledge Sassafras
Sensibility (Family: 3-h)

References

  1. ^ a b "The 2005-06 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings". Horseracingintfed.com. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
  2. ^ "David Junior pedigree". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
  3. ^ a b "Pedigree Spotlight". the-racehorse. 2006-07-11. Archived from the original on 2011-09-30. Retrieved 2011-08-28.
  4. ^ "Allied Irish Bank (GB) Maiden Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
  5. ^ "Fairway Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
  6. ^ "Fink Gala Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
  7. ^ "Select Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
  8. ^ Schweitzer, Mary (2005-10-15). "David Slays Goliaths in Champion Stakes". Bloodhorse. Retrieved 2011-08-28.
  9. ^ Eddie Fremantle (2005-10-16). "Sergeant earns three stripes". London: Guardian. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
  10. ^ "Sergeant Cecil takes the footslogger's route to dreamland". London: The Independent. 2005-10-16. Retrieved 2011-09-07.[dead link]
  11. ^ "Electrocutionist lights up Arabian night". London: The Independent. 2006-03-26. Archived from the original on November 12, 2012. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
  12. ^ "About Brian". Brian Meehan. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
  13. ^ Armytage, Marcus (2009-04-11). "Brian Meehan out to put Manton back on Classic map". London: Telegraph. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
  14. ^ "David Junior bests Elders in Dubai Duty Free". Bloodhorse. 2006-03-25. Retrieved 2011-08-28.
  15. ^ "Prince of Wales's Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
  16. ^ "RTÉ Sport: Junior "fit and well" ahead of Eclipse". Rte.ie. 2006-07-07. Retrieved 2011-09-07.[permanent dead link]
  17. ^ "David Junior claims the Eclipse". BBC News. 2006-07-08. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
  18. ^ "David Junior takes Eclipse Stakes at Sandown". Rte.ie. 2006-07-08. Retrieved 2011-08-28.[permanent dead link]
  19. ^ "BARKING MAD from 8 Aug 2006". mirror.co.uk. 2006-08-08. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
  20. ^ Greg Wood (2006-10-03). "British stallion set for black hole in Japan". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
  21. ^ "Breeders' Cup Classic". Racing Post. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
  22. ^ "The 2005 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings". Horseracingintfed.com. 2005-12-31. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
  23. ^ "The 2006 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings". Horseracingintfed.com. 2006-12-31. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
  24. ^ Stallion Profile
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