Presvis

Presvis (10 March 2004 – 17 October 2012) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. Although he did not race until the age of four and never won a major race in his native country he was one of the most financially successful British-trained horses of all-time, winning well over £4 million in prize money. He was trained throughout his career by Luca Cumani and ridden in most of his major races by Ryan Moore. The gelding was suited by extreme "hold-up" tactics and was usually restrained at the rear of the field before being produced for a late run in the straight. He was rated among the world's hundred best racehorses in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Presvis began his racing career in 2008, winning two of his seven races including a valuable handicap race at Newbury Racecourse. In the following year he raced in Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore, winning two handicaps at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse and the Queen Elizabeth II Cup as well as finishing second in the Dubai Duty Free and the Singapore Airlines International Cup. His only success in six starts in 2010 came when he won the Jebel Hatta at Meydan Racecourse in March. In the early part of 2011 at Meydan he won the Al Rashidiya and finished third in the Jebel Hatta before recording his most important win in the Dubai Duty Free. He failed to finish better than fifth in his remaining five races. He was retired from racing in 2012 and died later that year.

Background

Presvis was a bay gelding with a narrow white

Presvis was sent to the Tattersalls sale as a foal in November 2004 and was bought for 15,000 guineas by Will Edmeades Bloodstock.^[5] A year later, Presvis returned to Tattersalls and was sold for 30,000 guineas to Amanda Skiffington.^[6] The horse was subsequently gelded and entered the ownership of Leonidas Marinopoulos. He was sent into training with Luca Cumani at his Bedford House stable in Newmarket, Suffolk.

Racing career

2008: four-year-old season

Presvis began his racing career as a four-year-old in May 2008 when he finished third in a one-mile

For the third year in succession, Presvis began his season in Dubai and began his campaign on 27 January with a win in the Group Two Al Rashidiya, coming from last place to take the lead inside the final furlong and winning by almost five lengths from Steele Tango.[13] Cumani commented "He did it very, very well. I was very pleased as I thought he would need the race. I’ve not been able to do everything I wanted with him, but he probably knows best now. Ryan gets on with him like a house on fire. I didn’t give him any orders, I just said go out there and do what you normally do".^[14]

On 3 March Presvis attempted to repeat his 2010 success in the Jebel Hatta, but despite producing his customary late surge he finished third behind Wigmore Hall and Poet's Voice. Three weeks later the gelding ran for the third time in the Dubai Duty Free and started 5/1 favourite in a sixteen-runner field. His opponents included Wigmore Hall, the South African mare River Jetez, Mendip, Beauty Flash (Hong Kong Mile) and Debussy. After starting slowly, he took up his usual position at the rear of the field before making progress approaching the straight. He took the lead 100 metres from the finish and won by three quarters of a length from River Jetez, with Wigmore Hall a length and a half away in third.^[15] Ryan Moore commented "He's a very talented horse; he deserved that. A lot of hard work goes into him in the mornings and this is one for the whole team. They went a good gallop initially, then the pace slackened a bit and he got the gaps when I needed them. Usually, he quickens between horses and he had to fight to beat off the mare".^[16]

Presvis was then dropped in distance to race over one mile for the first time since 2008 and finished sixth in the

Presvis did not race again after his runs in the UAE in early 2012 and was retired to France. In the autumn of the same year he contracted colic and was euthanised on 17 October.^[17]

Assessment

In the 2009 edition of the World's Best Racehorse Rankings Presvis was given a rating of 120 making him the equal 43rd best racehorse in the world.^[18] He was given both the same rating and the same ranking in the following year.^[19] In 2011 he was yet again given a rating of 120, although his ranking dropped to 59.^[20]

Pedigree

References