Montjeu
Montjeu | |
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(2005) | |
Last updated on 12 September 2022 |
Montjeu (4 April 1996 – 29 March 2012) was an Irish-bred, French-trained
He died on 29 March 2012 at age 16 at Coolmore Stud from complications related to sepsis.[1][2]
Background
Montjeu, a bay horse standing 16.1
Racing career
1998: two-year-old season
Montjeu ran twice as a two-year-old in the autumn of 1998. On his racecourse debut he appeared in the Prix de la Maniguette over 1600 m at Chantilly and won "easily" from nine opponents.[5] A month later, he was moved up to Listed class and won the Prix Isonomy by three quarters of a length from Spadoun. Montjeu's form was boosted two weeks later when Spadoun won the Group One Critérium de Saint-Cloud. At the end of the year, a half-share in Montjeu was sold to the Coolmore organization, represented by Michael Tabor and Susan Magnier.[4]
1999: three-year-old season
Montjeu began his three-year-old season by starting joint-favourite with the Aga Khan's colt
Despite his defeat, Montjeu was made 7/5 favourite for the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly on 6 June. Asmussen held the colt up at the rear of the field before making his challenge in the straight. He took the lead 400 m from the finish and drew away from his opponents to win by four lengths from Nowhere To Exit, with Gracioso finishing nine lengths further back in sixth. Three weeks later, Montjeu was sent to the Curragh for the Irish Derby where his main rivals appeared to be the English-trained colts Daliapour and Beat All who had finished second and third respectively in The Derby. As at Chantilly, Montjeu was held up in the early running before moving smoothly through to dispute the lead in the straight. He took the lead a furlong from the finish and pulled clear to win by five lengths from Daliapour in "impressive" style.[7] After the race, Asmussen claimed that he had "five kilos in hand".[8]
Montjeu was then given a planned break of more than two months before returning in the
2000: four-year-old season
Montjeu stayed in training as a four-year-old and won his first four races. He began his season by moving down in distance to ten furlongs to win the
Montjeu won the Prix Foy at odds of 1/10 and was then made odds-on favourite to win his second "Arc" in October. He failed to reproduce his best form however, and finished fourth to Sinndar. He returned to Britain two weeks later for the Champion Stakes and again started favourite, but was beaten half a length by Kalanisi. On his final racecourse appearance three weeks later he finished seventh behind Kalanisi in the Breeders' Cup Turf.
Assessment
At the end of 1999, Montjeu was voted that year's
Montjeu was known for his idiosyncratic temperament: Kinane explained that the horse had "a few issues", while Hammond called him "an eccentric genius".[16]
Stud record
In 2001, Montjeu was retired to Coolmore Stud in Tipperary, Ireland. He was one of the top sires in the world and produced several noted champions, including four winners of the Epsom Derby – Motivator, Authorized, Pour Moi, and Camelot.
Notable progeny
c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding
As of 29 March 2012, he had produced 35 individual Group 1 winners and the winners of over £14m.[17]
Pedigree
Sire Sadler's Wells b. 1981 |
Northern Dancer b. 1961 |
Nearctic | Nearco |
---|---|---|---|
Lady Angela | |||
Natalma | Native Dancer | ||
Almahmoud | |||
Fairy Bridge b. 1975 |
Bold Reason | Hail to Reason
| |
Lalun
| |||
Special | Forli | ||
Thong | |||
Dam Floripedes b. 1985 |
Top Ville b. 1976 |
High Top | Derring-Do |
Camanae | |||
Sega Ville | Charlottesville | ||
La Sega | |||
Toute Cy b. 1979 |
Tennyson | Val de Loir | |
Tidra | |||
Adele Toumignon | Zeddaan | ||
Alvorada (Family 1-u) |
See also
References
- ^ "Montjeu RIP". Montjeu. 29 March 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
- ^ Jon Lees, 'Coolmore Stud world-class stallion Montjeu dies aged 16'. Racing Post, 29 March 2012
- ^ "Stallions :: Montjeu". Coolmore. 14 December 2010. Archived from the original on 14 December 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) Archived copy from 2010 - ^ a b "Montjeu, multiple Group 1 winner and top Coolmore sire, dies at 16". Daily Racing Form. 26 March 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
- ^ "Results from the 1.25 race at CHANTILLY (FR)". Racing Post. 18 September 1998. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
- ^ "Results from the 3.50 race at LONGCHAMP (FR)". Racing Post. 16 May 1999. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
- ^ "Results from the 4.00 race at CURRAGH (IRE)". Racing Post. 27 June 1999. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
- ^ Richard Edmondson (28 June 1999). "Racing: Montjeu hits peak form in Classic style". The Independent. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
- ^ "Results from the 3.45 race at LONGCHAMP (FR)". Racing Post. 12 September 1999. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
- ^ "Results from the 2.50 race at LONGCHAMP (FR)". Racing Post. 3 October 1999. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
- ^ GrabOne daily deals (4 October 1999). "Montjeu lands dramatic Arc". Irish Independent. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
- ^ "Results from the 3.50 race at ASCOT". Racing Post. 29 July 2000. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
- ^ "King George Stakes: Montjeu shines in solo role". Daily Telegraph. 31 July 2000. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
- ^ "International Classifications: Montjeu ranks among greats". The Racing Post. 19 January 2000. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
- ^ 'Star Sires: Sadler's Wells's Best Horses'. Timeform, 29 May 2020. Retrieved March 2022
- ^ Chris Cook (30 March 2012). "Tributes are paid to Montjeu, an outstanding racehorse and sire". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
- ^ "Montjeu; Stud Record". Racing Post. 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2012.