Miesque
| Miesque | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Hippodrome de Maisons-Laffitte |
Miesque (
Miesque was equally successful as a broodmare, producing five stakes winners including French Classic winners Kingmambo and East of the Moon.
Background
Miesque was bred in Lexington, Kentucky by Flaxman Holdings, the breeding operation of shipping tycoon Stavros Niarchos. She was sired by Nureyev, a stakes-winner for Niarchos who became a champion sire in France before being exported to the United States. Nureyev was a son of breed-shaping sire Northern Dancer. Her dam was Pasadoble, a stakes-winning mare by Prove Out. Miesque was a full sister to stakes winners Massaraat and Bravemie, and a half sister to stakes producers Yogya by Riverman and One Life by L'Emigrant.[2][3][4]
Miesque raced as a homebred for Niarchos, and did most of her racing in Europe. She was stabled in France and trained by François Boutin. The barn staff nicknamed her "La Concierge" because of her interest in what was happening around her.[2]
Racing record
Miesque won three of her four races as a two-year-old, including the French Group One (G1) Prix de la Salamandre over 1,400 metres (7.0 furlongs) and the Prix Marcel Boussac over 1,600 metres (8.0 furlongs). Her sole loss was a third-place finish in the Prix Morny. She was named the French Champion two-year-old filly of 1986.[2]
Under jockey
The following year, Miesque raced only four times, winning three and finishing second once. In France, she won the Prix d'Ispahan, stretching out in distance to 1,800 metres (8.9 furlongs). She finished second by a head to Soviet Star in the Prix du Moulin, then defeated Warning for her second win in the Prix Jacques le Marois. She returned to the U.S. to defend her Breeders Cup title at Churchill Downs in Kentucky and once again was up against a very strong field of older males including Warning, Belmont Stakes winner Bet Twice and Steinlen. Despite the fierce competition, the filly won the race by four lengths, making her the first ever back-to-back winner in Breeders Cup history. Miesque's win came over a sodden turf course, described by Warning's jockey Pat Eddery as "the worse turf I've ever ridden on." Miesque's connection never considered scratching her despite the filly's preference for firmer footing. "When you win the Breeders' Cup, then you know why you come", said Maria Niarchos. "You come to win!"[5][6]
The performance earned her a second straight Eclipse Award for Outstanding Female Turf Horse for 1988 and she was again voted France's Champion Miler of the year plus was named that country's Champion Older Mare.[2] Miesque retired after the 1988 season. Of her sixteen lifetime races, the filly won twelve, finished second three times, and third once.
Breeding record
She was a successful broodmare at the Niarchos stud farm in Kentucky. She produced 14 named foals, six of which were winners. Her daughters have in turn become successful producers and the family produced two classic winners in 2018 alone. Recently, her maternal-line descendant Loves Only You won the 2021 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Miesque's offspring include:[2][7]
- St. James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Kingmambo was an outstanding sire standing at Lane's End Farm at Versailles in Kentucky; sired Lemon Drop Kid, Henrythenavigator, King's Best, El Condor Pasa, Russian Rhythm, and Divine Proportions
- Irish 1000 Guineas winner Alpha Centauri
- Miesque's Son: 1992, colt by Mr Prospector – won G3 Prix de Ris-Orangis, successful sire in America; sired Eclipse Award for Outstanding Male Turf Horse
- Moon Is Up: 1993, filly by Woodman – won LR Prix de Lieurey. stakes producer and second dam of Karakontie, who won both the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and Breeders' Cup Mile in 2014
- Monevassia: 1994, filly by Mr Prospector – non-winner. dam of Rumplestiltskin (IRE), European champion two-year-old filly of 2005 who won G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes, Prix Marcel Boussac. Monevassia is also the second dam of Real Steel and Loves Only You.
- Mingun: 2000, colt by A. P. Indy – won 3 races including Meld Stakes
- Second Happiness: 2002, filly by Storm Cat (USA) – unplaced only race in France 2005. dam of Study of Man, 2018 winner of the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) and stakes winner Tale of Life (JPN) 2012, both by Deep Impact
Miesque was euthanized at Lane's End Farm on January 20, 2011 at the age of 27.[8]
Honors
Miesque was inducted into the
The annual Prix Miesque at the Hippodrome in Maisons-Laffitte, Yvelines is held in her honor. In America, the Miesque Stakes was run at Hollywood Park Racetrack, where Miesque won her first Breeders' Cup Mile, until that track closed in 2013.[2]
Pedigree
| Sire Nureyev |
Northern Dancer (CAN) | Nearctic | Nearco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lady Angela | |||
| Natalma | Native Dancer | ||
| Almahmoud | |||
| Special 1969 |
Forli (ARG) | Aristophanes | |
| Trevisa | |||
| Thong | Nantallah | ||
| Rough Shod II | |||
| Dam Pasodoble 1979 |
Prove Out | Graustark | Ribot |
| Flower Bowl | |||
| Equal Venture | Bold Venture | ||
| Igual | |||
| Santa Quilla (FR) 1970 |
Sanctus | Fine Top | |
| Sanelta | |||
| Neriad | Princequillo | ||
| Sea-Change |
See also
References
- ^ "Equibase Profile – Miesque". equibase.com. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g Avalyn Hunter. "Miesque". American Classic Pedigrees. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
- ^ Avalyn Hunter. "Nureyev". American Classic Pedigrees. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
- ^ Australian Stud Book: Pasadoble (USA) Retrieved 2011-1-22
- ^ a b "A Look Back: Miesque's Second Mile Victory". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
- ^ Haskin, Steve. "Oh, Miesque, What a Filly!". cs.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
- ^ Stevens, Martin. "Mastercraftsman meets Miesque to make Curragh heroine Alpha Centauri | Bloodstock News | Racing Post". racingpost.com. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
- ^ David Carr (January 20, 2011). "Mould breaking filly Miesque dies aged 27". Racing Post. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012.