Doyen (horse)
Doyen | |
---|---|
![]() Racing colours of Godolphin | |
Sire | Sadler's Wells |
Grandsire | Northern Dancer |
Dam | Moon Cactus |
Damsire | Kris |
Sex | Stallion |
Foaled | 2000 |
Country | Ireland |
Colour | Bay |
Breeder | Sheikh Mohammed |
Owner | Sheikh Mohammed |
Trainer | André Fabre Saeed bin Suroor |
Record | 13:5-2-0 |
Earnings | £708,623 |
Major wins | |
Prix du Lys (2003) Hardwicke Stakes (2004) King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2004) | |
Last updated on 25 July 2010 |
Doyen (foaled 22 April 2000) is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse, who was bred in Ireland but trained in France, Dubai and the United Kingdom during a racing career which lasted from 2002 to 2005. He is best known for winning the 2004 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Background
Doyen is a tall, rangy
Racing career
2002: two-year-old season
Doyen was originally sent into training with André Fabre in France. He was not a precocious colt and did not appear on a racecourse until the autumn of 2002, when he ran fifth in a minor event for unraced horses at Maisons-Laffitte.[4]
2003: three-year-old season
At three, Doyen proved himself to be a top-class middle-distance performer in a campaign which saw him moved up in grade with each race. After capturing a minor race at Saint-Cloud,[5] he won the Listed Coupe des Trois Ans at Lyon-Parilly "easily" by two lengths.[6] Moved up to Group Race standard for the first time in June 2004, he outpaced his opponents to record a four length win in the Prix du Lys at Longchamp.
On Doyen's next start he ran in the
2004: four-year-old season
In the winter of 2003/4 Doyen was transferred from France to the Sheikh's
So impressive was Doyen's victory that he was made clear favourite for the following month's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes over the same course and distance, and he was even blamed for the absence of top-class three-year-olds in the race.[10] On the day, he fully justified his reputation, winning by an easy three lengths in a style described The Independent's correspondent as " simply magnificent".[11] Dettori praised the colt saying, "I have never had a horse travel like he did today...he was absolutely devastating".[12]
The King George win could have been the first of many Group One successes, and
Three more unplaced efforts in 2005 saw him retired to stud.
Assessment
In the 2004 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings Doyen was awarded a figure of 127, making him the third best racehorse in the world, the highest-rated European and the highest-rated turf performer.
Stud career
Doyen was retired to stand at his owner's
Pedigree
Sire Sadler's Wells |
Northern Dancer | Nearctic | Nearco |
---|---|---|---|
Lady Angela | |||
Natalma | Native Dancer | ||
Almahmoud | |||
Fairy Bridge | Bold Reason | Hail To Reason | |
Lalun | |||
Special | Forli | ||
Thong | |||
Dam Moon Cactus |
Kris | Sharpen Up | Atan |
Rocchetta | |||
Doubly Sure | Reliance | ||
Soft Angels | |||
Lady Moon | Mill Reef | Never Bend | |
Milan Mill | |||
Moonlight Night | Levmoss | ||
Lovely Light (Family: 1-s) |
References
- ^ "Doyen information page". German-thoroughbred.com. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
- ^ a b "Darley". Darley. Retrieved 4 September 2011.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Doyen pedigree". Racing Post. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
- ^ "Prix Hunyade". Racing Post. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
- ^ "Prix Cadet Roussel". Racing Post. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
- ^ "Coupe des Trois Ans". Racing Post. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
- ^ "Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe 2003". Racing Post. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
- ^ "Hardwicke Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
- ^ "Doyen Romps in Hardwicke for Streaking Godolphin". BloodHorse. 19 June 2004. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
- ^ "Doyen frightens off Ascot's young brigade". The Independent. 20 July 2004. Retrieved 28 August 2011.[dead link]
- ^ "Magnificent Dettori puts Doyen on route to join true champions". The Independent. 26 July 2004. Retrieved 28 August 2011.[dead link]
- ^ JA McGrath (26 July 2004). "Leopardstown next for dazzling Doyen". Telegraph. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
- ^ "Doyen no champion". Icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk. 13 September 2004. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
- ^ "Champion Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
- ^ "Stallion | Doyen: Active, Healthy and Good Looking Stallion". Archived from the original on 16 December 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
- ^ "Doyen stud record". Racing Post. Retrieved 28 August 2011.