Millenary
Millenary | |
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Sire | Jockey Club Cup (2004) (2005)Lonsdale Cup |
Last updated on 22 June 2007 |
Millenary is a retired British
Background
Millenary was bred by his owner, Neil Jones's Abergwaun Farms breeding operation. He was sired by the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner, Rainbow Quest, out of the minor winner Ballerina.[1] Ballerina went on to produce two other notable horses, the Princess Royal Stakes winner, Head in the Clouds, and Let The Lion Roar, who finished third in the 2004 Derby.[2] He was trained throughout his career by John Dunlop. He was ridden in most of his races up to the end of 2003 by Pat Eddery, after which Richard Quinn was his regular jockey.
Racing career
1999–2000: early career
Unlike most racehorses, Millenary began his career in
Dropped down to
The
2001–2003: Middle distance races
For the next three seasons, Millenary was campaigned in top-class middle-distance events all over Europe.
His best victory in 2001 came on his debut in the Jockey Club Stakes, at Newmarket where he recorded comfortable win over Sandmason with Holding Court third and Air Marshall tailed-off in last place.[10] The race led the BBC to suggest that he would be "a force to be reckoned with", while John Dunlop called Millenary "a lovely character and... a good ride".[11] It proved, however, to be his only win of the season.
Millenary's most important success in 2002 came when he won the
In 2003 he finished first, a nose in front Loxias, in the
During this period, he was also placed in important races such as the
2004–2006: Staying races
Millenary's last race of 2003, a short-head defeat to the double
In 2004, he had his greatest success since his three-year-old days. In May he won the Yorkshire Cup, "cruising" through the race and showing "a good turn of foot" to take the race by three lengths from Alcazar with the Ascot Gold Cup winner Mr Dinos well beaten.[20] In the autumn he returned to the scene of his St Leger win and dead-heated with Kasthari in a "thrilling" race for the Doncaster Cup.[21] A month later he was "always cantering" in the Jockey Club Cup at Newmarket before taking the lead inside the final furlong and winning by three lengths. Commenting on a "wonderful season", Dunlop said of Millenary, "He might be a seven-year-old entire, but he has retained all his ability and enthusiasm".[22]
As an eight-year-old in 2005, he was as good again, winning the two more important staying races. At York in August for the Lonsdale Cup he was held up in last place before quickening to lead and go clear inside the final furlong, beating the odds-on favourite Distinction by two and a half lengths. "I am absolutely thrilled to bits", said Dunlop afterwards, "he has been a wonderful servant".[23] Three weeks later he recorded his last win, again coming from last to first to win the Doncaster Cup for a second year. John Dunlop was visibly moved by the horse's victory and again paid tribute to his winner: "He's amazing...so genuine".[24] After one more race, a third place in the Jockey Club Cup, Millenary was retired to stud.[25]
Assessment
In 2000 Millenary (116) was the highest-rated three-year-old stayer (Extended Distance division) in the International Classification [26] drawn up by the International Classification Committee and the North American Rating Committee. This was not, however, a "World Championship", as it did not include horses from the Southern Hemisphere.
In 2004 Millenary was rated the fourth best stayer of any age in the world in the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings[27] with a rating of 117.
He was given the same rating in 2005, this time placing him third in the world in his division.[28] His highest Timeform figure was 124.
Stud career
Millenary was retired at the end of 2005 to stand at stud at the Knockhouse Stud in
Pedigree
Sire Rainbow Quest (USA) 1981 |
Blushing Groom 1974 |
Red God | Nasrullah |
---|---|---|---|
Spring Run | |||
Runaway Bride | Wild Rik | ||
Aimee | |||
I Will Follow 1975 |
Herbager | Vandale | |
Flagette | |||
Where You Lead | Raise a Native | ||
Noblesse | |||
Dam Ballerina (IRE) 1991 |
Dancing Brave 1983 |
Lyphard | Northern Dancer |
Goofed | |||
Navajo Princess | Drone | ||
Olmec | |||
Dancing Shadow 1977 |
Dancer's Image | Native Dancer | |
Noor's Image | |||
Sunny Valley | Val de Loir | ||
Sunland (Family: 1-l)[31] |
References
- ^ "Millenary pedigree". Racing Post. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
- ^ "Millenary". Knockhouse Stud. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
- ^ "Washington Singer Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
- ^ "Peter Smith Memorial Maiden Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
- ^ "Chester Vase". Racing Post. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
- ^ "Chester: Millenary bags Vase". Retrieved 6 September 2011 – via The Free Library.
- ^ Hannan, Martin. "Millenary sews up St Leger". The Scotsman. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
- ^ Scott, Brough (10 September 2000). "Millenary toughs it out to take St Leger". Telegraph. London. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
- ^ "Millenary Edges Air Marshall in St. Leger". BloodHorse. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
- ^ "Jockey Club Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
- ^ "Newmarket salutes Millenary". BBC News. 4 May 2001. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
- ^ "Princess of Wales's Stakes 2002". Racing Post. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
- ^ J A McGrath (10 July 2002). "Culhane's costly blunder". Telegraph. London. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
- ^ "Prix Jean de Chaudenay". Racing Post. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
- ^ "Loxias wins Prix Jean de Chaudenay by disqualification". Thoroughbred Times. 21 May 2003. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
- ^ "Millenary Wins Princess of Wales's Again". BloodHorse. 8 July 2003. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
- ^ "Princess of Wales's Stakes 2003". Racing Post. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
- ^ Greg Wood at Newmarket (8 July 2003). "Millenary highlights a Classic crop crisis | Sport". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
- ^ "Jockey Club Cup 2003". Racing Post. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
- ^ "Millenary surges to Yorkshire Cup glory". RTÉ. 13 May 2004. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
- ^ "BBC Sport | Other Sport | Horse Racing | Dead-heat in Doncaster Cup". BBC News. 9 September 2004. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
- ^ "Racenews Newslink Archive – Saturday, October 16, 2004". Racenewsonline.co.uk. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
- ^ "RTÉ Sport: Millenary achieves top marks". RTÉ. 16 August 2005. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
- ^ Armytage, Marcus (9 September 2005). "Millenary turns back years". Telegraph. London. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
- ^ "BLOODSTOCK DESK: Millenary". 9 November 2005. Retrieved 6 September 2011 – via The Free Library.
- ^ "EndMaterial2001.qxd" (PDF). Retrieved 6 September 2011.
- ^ "2004Rankings". horseracingintfed.com. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
- ^ "The 2005 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings". International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities. 31 December 2005. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
- ^ "Millenary". Knockhousestud.com. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
- ^ "Millenary pedigree". Equineline. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
- ^ Patricia Erigero Thoroughbred Heritage. "1 Tregonwell's Natural Barb Mare". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 4 July 2012.