Moonshell (horse)
Moonshell | |
---|---|
Godolphin | |
Trainer | Henry Cecil Hilal Ibrahim Saeed bin Suroor |
Record | 5: 2-0-2 |
Earnings | £173,495 |
Major wins | |
Epsom Oaks (1995) | |
Honours | |
Timeform rating: 117[1] |
Moonshell (20 February 1992 – 21 January 2006) was an Irish-bred
. Moonshell did not run again as a three-year-old and was well beaten in two races in 1996 before being retired to stud.Background
Moonshell was a "lengthy, angular"
Moonshell was originally sent into training with Henry Cecil at his Warren Place stables at Newmarket.
Racing career
1994: two-year-old season
Moonshell did not run as a two-year-old until the late autumn of 1994 when she appeared in a one-mile maiden race at Doncaster on 21 October. Ridden by Willie Ryan, she took the lead approaching the final furlong and went clear of her opponents for a three-length win.[6]
In the winter of 1994/5, Sheikh Mohammed transferred Moonshell to his
1995: three-year-old season
In the spring of 1995, the Godolphin horses returned to the organisation's British base at Newmarket, and her training was taken over by Saeed Bin Suroor. Like Balanchine a year earlier, Moonshell was sent straight for the 1000 Guineas without a trial race. She started joint second favourite at odds of
At Epsom on 9 June, Moonshell started 3/1 second favourite for the Oaks, with Aqaarid being made the 6/4 favourite in a field of ten fillies. Moonshell was positioned just behind the leaders and turned into the straight in third place behind the outsiders Musetta and Dance A Dream. Moonshell moved to the front two furlongs from the finish and was ridden out by Dettori to win by one and a quarter lengths from Dance A Dream.[10] Pure Grain, who went on to win the Irish Oaks and the Yorkshire Oaks, was three quarters of a length away in third, with Aqaarid well beaten in sixth.[10] After the race, Dettori performed a flying dismount and praised the way that the filly had coped with the course and the occasion despite her lack of experience.[11] According to the jockey, Moonshell showed "great courage" and was "an exceptional filly."[8] Shortly after the race, Moonshell sustained a serious injury[12] and did not race again in 1995.
At the end of the year, Moonshell was again sent to spend the winter in Dubai.
1996: four-year-old season
On 25 February, she made her first appearance for more than eight months when she appeared in the Central Trading Company Mile on the dirt course at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse. She finished third of the four runners, beaten more than fifteen lengths by the winner, Airport.[13] Moonshell was sent back to England for the 1996 turf season but made only one appearance when she started 6/1 second favourite for the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket on 3 May. After racing just behind the leaders, she weakened badly in the last three furlongs and was virtually pulled up by Dettori, finishing tailed-off last of the nine runners behind Riyadian.[14] According to the independent Timeform organisation, Moonshell looked "a shadow" of the filly who won the Oaks, and she was immediately retired.[15]
Assessment and honours
In their book A Century of Champions, based on the Timeform rating system, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Moonshell a "poor" winner of the Oaks and the worst filly to win the race since 1967.[16] Timeform gave Moonshell a rating of 117.[1]
Stud record
As a broodmare, Moonshell was sent to leading stallions including
1998 Alunissage (USA) : Bay colt, foaled 10 February, by Rainbow Quest (USA) - won 1 race and placed 6 times from 13 starts in England and Dubai 2001-2006, including 3rd LR Fred Archer Stakes, Newmarket.
1999 Forest Pearl (USA) : Bay filly, foaled 7 March, by Woodman (USA) - unraced, dam of Miss Finland (AUS) winner of 6 races in Australia including G1Golden Slipper, Rosehill; G1 1000 Guineas, Caulfield; G1 Crown Oaks, Flemington; G1 Cadbury Guineas, Caulfield and G1 Arrowfield Stud Stakes, Rosehill.
2000 Moonsprite (GB) : Bay filly, foaled 7 April, by Seeking The Gold (USA) - won 2 races and placed twice from 6 starts in England 2002-3
2004 Lunar Storm (IRE) : Bay gelding, foaled 1 April, by Machiavellian (USA) - unplaced in 9 starts in England 2008-9
2006 Hatta Diamond (IRE) : Chesnut colt, foaled 21 January, by Pivotal (GB) - won 1 race and placed third once from 6 starts in England 2009
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
- ^ a b c "Moonshell Form and pedigree". Timeform.com. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- ^ "Leading Sires of Great Britain and Ireland". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
- ^ "Moon Cactus". Racing Post. 2 June 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- ^ "Hatha Anna". Racing Post. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- ^ "Web - Family 1-s". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- ^ "Wheatley Park Fillies' Maiden Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- ^ "The owners:Godolphin". BBC News. 3 May 2003. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
- ^ a b Edmondson, Richard (10 June 1995). "Dettori yells Moonshell's praises". The Independent. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- ^ "1000 Guineas". Racing Post. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- ^ a b "Epsom Oaks result". Racing Post. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- ^ "Moonshell makes it double". Manila Standard. 11 June 1995. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- ^ "Ice-cool Richard". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- ^ "Central Trading Company Mile". Racing Post. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- ^ "Jockey Club Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- ^ "Racecard Results - Godolphin". Timeform.com. 3 May 1996. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- ISBN 1-901570-15-0.
- ^ "Alunissage". Racing Post. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- ^ "Moonsprite". Racing Post. 2 June 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- ^ "Miss Finland". Racing Post. 2 June 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- ^ "MOONSHELL (IRE)". Godolphin. 7 May 1995. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- ^ "Epsom Oaks victress Moonshell dies after foaling". Thoroughbred Times. 3 February 2006. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- ^ "Moonshell pedigree". equineline.com. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.