Light Cavalry (horse)
Light Cavalry | |
---|---|
Sire | Brigadier Gerard |
Grandsire | Queen's Hussar |
Dam | Glass Slipper |
Damsire | Relko |
Sex | Stallion |
Foaled | 7 February 1977[1] |
Country | United Kingdom |
Colour | Bay |
Breeder | Jim Joel |
Owner | Jim Joel |
Trainer | Henry Cecil |
Record | 11:5-2-2 |
Major wins | |
King Edward VII Stakes (1980) St Leger Stakes (1980) Princess of Wales's Stakes (1981) | |
Awards | |
Timeform rating 95p (1979), 128 (1980), 124 (1981) |
Light Cavalry (7 February 1977–2004) was a British
Background
Light Cavalry was a "big, rangy" heavily built
Racing career
1979: two-year-old season
On his racecourse debut, Light Cavalry contested a maiden race over seven furlong at Sandown Park Racecourse in October. He took the lead two furlongs from the finish and won comfortably by a length from Himalia. In their annual Racehorses of 1979, Timeform described him as having "considerable scope for improvement".[4]
1980: three-year-old season
Light Cavalry began his three-year-old season in May, when he contested the Group Three Chester Vase, a trial race for the Epsom Derby. He was settled behind the leaders in the early stages, but when asked to accelerate in the straight he made no progress and finished third behind Henbit and Moomba Masquerade. Later that month he was dropped in class for a handicap race at Newbury Racecourse over 1+1⁄2 miles. He started the odds-on favourite and won the race, but had to work hard to secure the prize from Ayyabaan,[5] and was not particularly impressive.[2]
Light Cavalry missed the Derby (won by Henbit) and reappeared in the Group Two King Edward VII Stakes at
Prince Bee was aimed at the
1981: four-year-old season
On his four-year-old debut, Light Cavalry started favourite for the John Porter Stakes over 1+1⁄2 miles at Newbury Racecourse in April. He ran very poorly,[7] finishing unplaced behind Pelerin, and returned from the race with a tendon injury and a swollen hock, leading Cecil to speculate that the colt might never run again.[8]
Light Cavalry recovered from his injuries in time to run in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. He set a strong pace from the start and stayed on after being overtaken in the straight and finished second, three lengths behind Pelerin, to whom he was conceding weight. In the Princess of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse three weeks later, Light Cavalry conceded at least twelve pounds to his seven opponents[7] in the Group Two Princess of Wales's Stakes in which he was ridden by Lester Piggott and started at odds of 11/4. Piggott sent Light Cavalry into the lead from the start and set a strong pace before being overtaken by Royal Fountain three furlongs from the finish but quickly regained the lead. A furlong from the finish Light Cavalry was challenged by Castle Keep and Centurius and appeared beaten but rallied under strong pressure and won by a neck. Light Cavalry was then aimed at the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July, but suffered a recurrence of his tendon injury[9] and appeared before the race with heavily bandaged legs. He led the race for a mile, but eventually finished last of the seven runners behind Shergar.[8]
Assessment
In 1979, the independent Timeform gave Light Cavalry a rating of 95p, the "p" indicating that the colt was likely to make more than normal improvement.[4] In 1980, Timeform gave Light Cavalry a rating of 128, nine pounds below the top-rated horse Moorestyle. In the official International Classification he was rated the eighth-best three-year-old colt in Europe, four pounds below Moorestyle.[2] In the following year, Timeform rated him at 124, while in the International Classification he was rated the fourth-best older male racehorse in Europe, and the tenth-best horse of any age.[8]
In their book, A Century of Champions, based on the Timeform rating system, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Light Cavalry an "inferior" winner of the St Leger.[10]
Stud career
In September 1981, Light Cavalry was sold for an estimated $2,500,000 and exported to stand at Crescent Farm, Kentucky, U.S.A. at a stud fee of $12,500 a mare.[8] He was exported to Argentina in 1987 and died in December 2004. The best of his offspring was probably Mr Light Tres who won the Argentinian Gran Premio del Jockey Club in 1992.[11]
Pedigree
Sire Brigadier Gerard (GB) 1968 |
Queen's Hussar (GB) 1960 |
March Past | Petition |
---|---|---|---|
Marcelette | |||
Jojo | Vilmorin | ||
Fairy Jane | |||
La Paiva (GB) 1956 |
Prince Chevalier | Prince Rose | |
Chevalerie | |||
Brazen Molly | Horus | ||
Molly Adare | |||
Dam Glass Slipper (GB) 1969 |
Relko (GB) 1960 |
Tanerko | Tantieme |
La Divine | |||
Relance | Relic | ||
Polaire | |||
Crystal Palace (GB) 1956 |
Solar Slipper | Windsor Slipper | |
Solar Slipper | |||
Queen of Light | Borealis | ||
Picture Play (Family:1-s)[3] |
References
- ^ a b "Light Cavalry pedigree". Equineline. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
- ^ ISBN 0-900599-31-6.
- ^ a b "Thoroughbred Bloodlines – Web – Family 1-s". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2013-10-24.
- ^ ISBN 0-900599-29-4.
- ^ Evening Times. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-873626-15-3.
- ^ Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
- ^ ISBN 0-900599-33-2.
- ^ "Cavalry to miss Ascot?". Evening Times. 22 July 1981. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
- ISBN 978-1-901570-15-1.
- ^ "Gran Premio Jockey Club (Argentina) Winners". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2013-11-01.