Declaration of War (horse)

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Declaration of War
Declaration of War at Leopardstown in 2013.
SireWar Front
GrandsireDanzig
DamTempo West
DamsireRahy
SexStallion
Foaled29 April 2009[1]
CountryUnited States
ColourBay
BreederJoseph Allen
OwnerMichael Tabor
Derrick Smith
Mrs John Magnier
Joseph Allen
TrainerJean-Claude Rouget
Aidan O'Brien
Record13: 7-1-2
Earnings£863,758
Major wins
Diamond Stakes (2012)
Queen Anne Stakes (2013)
International Stakes (2013)

Declaration of War (foaled 29 April 2009) is an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He won the Group Three Diamond Stakes in 2012, but emerged as a world-class performer in the following year, winning the Queen Anne Stakes and International Stakes and being placed in the Eclipse Stakes, Sussex Stakes and Breeders' Cup Classic.

Background

Declaration of War is a bay horse with a white

1000 Guineas in 1966. Other descendants of Glad Rags include the Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Prince of Birds and the Belmont Stakes winners Colonial Affair and Union Rags.[3]

Declaration of War was sent into training in France with Jean-Claude Rouget as a two-year-old.

Racing career

2011 & 2012: early career

Declaration of War did not race until November 2011 when he won a minor race over 1700

Deauville Racecourse and won impressively by eight lengths from twelve opponents.[4]

In early 2012 a majority share in Declaration of War was sold to

Dundalk Racecourse. Joseph O'Brien restrained the colt at the back of the twelve runner field before switching to the outside in the straight. Declaration of War finished strongly to take the lead in the closing stages and won by half a length from Along Came Casey.[6]

2013: four-year-old season

Declaration of War began his third season in the Listed Heritage Stakes over one mile at Leopardstown Racecourse on 14 April and won easily by 2+1⁄2 lengths from four opponents.[7] For his next race, the colt was sent to the United Kingdom and moved up to Group One class for the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury Racecourse. He was strongly supported in the betting and started the 5/4 favourite, but weakened in the closing stages and finished fifth, more than eleven lengths behind the winner Farhh.

Declaration of War at Newbury

Declaration of War returned to England in June for the Group One Queen Anne Stakes at

Toronado and Dawn Approach in the Sussex Stakes and fourth to Moonlight Cloud, Olympic Glory and Intello in the Prix Jacques Le Marois
.

On 21 August Declaration of War started at odds of 7/1 for the Juddmonte International Stakes over 10+1⁄2 furlongs at York Racecourse. Joseph O'Brien tracked the leaders before moving the colt forward in the straight. He took the lead inside the furlongs and won by one and a quarter lengths from Trading Leather and Al Kazeem with Toronado last of the six runners. After the race O'Brien paid tribute to the winner, saying "He has an unbelievable constitution. He's made like a big sprinter, he works with a lot of speed at home, travels very strongly and definitely he's improving. Racing is the thing which is bringing him [on], which is brilliant."[9]

Bookmakers made him the 9/4 favourite for the Irish Champion Stakes but he was withdrawn on the day of the race due to the going. The race was won by The Fugue.

On 2 November, Declaration of War was one of two European runners in the Breeders' Cup Classic at

photo
, beaten a nose and a head by Mucho Macho Man and Will Take Charge.

Assessment

In the 2013 edition of the World's Best Racehorse Rankings Declaration of War was given a rating of 124 making him joint 11th best rated horse in the work, the same as stable mates Magician and St Nicholas Abbey.

Stud career

Declaration of War at stud

After the Breeders' Cup Declaration of War was retired and it was announced that he would stand as a stallion at Coolmore stud in Tipperary in 2014.[11] Declaration of War covered 172 mares in 2014 including a sister to derby winner High Chaparral and Danetime Out the dam of Toormore and Estidhkaar. Later in 2014 he was shuttled to Australia along with fellow first season stallion Camelot for the southern hemisphere breeding season.[12]

In 2015, Declaration of War was moved to stand at

Ashford Stud
in Kentucky.

The filly foal, Countess Chrissy was born on 29 December 2014.[13] She is unraced and a broodmare. Her dam, Monzza (by Montjeu ex Zee Zee Top) was in the Tattersalls December Sales 2014. Catalogue states that Monzza had last been covered by Declaration Of War on the 12 February 2014.[14]

His first colt foal, Boston T Party [15] out of the Pivotal mare Sri Kandi, was born 7 January 2015.[16]

Declaration of War was represented by his first winner on May 8, 2017 in England, when colt Declarationoflove won a five-furlong Novice Stakes.[17]

Filly Actress became Declaration of War's first graded stakes winner in July 2017, when she won the Group 3 Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh, defeating colts.[18]

Notable progeny

Declaration of War Group/Grade 1 winners:

c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding

Foaled Name Sex Major Wins
2015 Vow And Declare g Melbourne Cup
2015 Olmedo c Poule d'Essai des Poulains
2015 Winning Ways f Queensland Oaks
2016 Warning g Victoria Derby
2017 Decorated Invader c Summer Stakes (Canada)
2017 Gufo c Belmont Derby
Sword Dancer Stakes (twice)
2018 Fire At Will c Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf

Pedigree

Pedigree of Declaration of War, bay stallion, 2009[1]
Sire
War Front (USA)
2002 		Danzig (USA)
1977 		Northern Dancer Nearctic
Natalma
Pas de Nom Admiral's Voyage
Petitioner
Starry Dreamer (USA)
1994 		Rubiano Fappiano
Ruby Slippers
Lara's Star Forli
True Reality
Dam
Tempo West (USA)
1999 		Rahy (USA)
1985 		Blushing Groom Red God
Runaway Bride
Glorious Song Halo
Ballade
Tempo (USA)
1992 		Gone West Mr. Prospector
Secrettame
Terpsichorist Nijinsky
Glad Rags (Family: 13-b)[3]

References

  1. ^ a b "Declaration of War pedigree". Equineline. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-08-21.
  2. ^ "War Front". Racing Post. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  3. ^ a b "Thoroughbred Bloodlines – Lady Sarah – Family 13-b". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2013-08-21.
  4. ^ "Prix Habitat result". Racing Post. 16 December 2011. Retrieved 2013-08-21.
  5. ^ "Moyglare Stud Lifetime Achievement in Racing Trophy result". Racing Post. 30 September 2012. Retrieved 2013-08-21.
  6. ^ "Diamond Stakes result". Racing Post. 5 October 2012. Retrieved 2013-08-21.
  7. ^ "Heritage Stakes result". Racing Post. 14 April 2013. Retrieved 2013-08-21.
  8. ^ "Queen Anne Stakes result". Racing Post. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 2013-08-21.
  9. ^ Greg Wood (21 August 2013). "Declaration Of War beats hot field in York's Juddmonte International". The Guardian. Retrieved 2013-08-22.
  10. ^ Jon Lees (31 October 2013). "War primed to break Ballydoyle's Classic duck". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 31 October 2013. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  11. ^ "Declaration of War is set to be retired to stud".
  12. ^ Racing Post
  13. ^ "Goffs - November Breeding Stock Sale 2018".
  14. ^ "Tattersalls Newmarket".
  15. ^ "Boston T Party | Race Record & Form | Racing Post".
  16. ^ Racing Post
  17. ^ "First Winner for Declaration of War". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  18. ^ "Declaration of War, Justin Phillip Get Stakes Winners". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
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