Dawn Run, Lochsong and Pebbles are included in the "Racing Great" Section, but even I realised a distinctive lack of female runners in my collection.
Having raced our own fillies we are aware that one needs special skills to bring out the best in them, and many fillies prefer to be treated with kid gloves. They might be tough and willing on the racetrack, but finding the key to their sensitive nature, "disturbed" on a monthly basis by a bout of hormones, is a difficult asset. Nature dictates that fillies are not as flashy as colts either, their muscular exterieur rather almost outshining the smallish and -well- plainer female counterpart in the paradering. To play their part in the breeding game a filly seldom stays in training long enough to develope into a "mare" (female racehorses are called "filly" at two and three years of age, and "mare" from then on; a male horse is called "colt" in his first two years racing, and "horse" after; if not reduced to being a gelding that is), but some do, and they capture our imagination with their grace and resolution. I hope the following collection does inspire you as these magic horses did inspire us.
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So much has been said and written about Ruffian, so nothing new can be added about this wonderful filly. Ruffian died more than thirty years ago, in an infamous Match-Race against Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure on july 7th, 1975, and her tragic demise stunned a nation, and America´s racing wasn´t the same for a long time after. Ruffian truely was magic, many who saw her said she was the BEST FILLY EVER, ANWHERE IN THE WORLD; she was never defeated and never headed, in fact it was she who was in front when both jockey´s heard the sickening noise, described as being "like the breaking of a board" when Ruffian´s off-fore leg snapped at the mile marker.
Ruffian (*1972, by Reviewer- Shenanigans, by Native Dancer) had been a Star Racer, undefeated in 10 races prior to this fateful day, so superior to her own sex that she was actually never even headed in her races, for however short a time or however short a stride. A massive, flashy dark-brown nearly black filly, often mistaken to be a colt for sheer physical presence, Ruffian took the Fillie´s Triple Crown (Acorn Stakes, Mother Goose Stakes and Coaching Club American Oaks) of 1975 by storm, actually setting off at odds of 1-20 for the last leg of the series.
Vain attempts were made to save Ruffian after the accident, her shattered leg was supported by a pneumatic cast, and a nearly eight-hour operation was performed to save her life. Ruffian stopped breathing twice during that time, but was revived. Much worse was to come though, as Ruffian was starting to wake up from the anaestatic, she was confused, disoriented and in much pain; trying to gain control and getting up to stand on her legs, she lashed out and around and caused damage not only to the operated leg, but to her other one as well. Vetenarians had no option but to save Ruffian from further suffering, and the filly was put to sleep, about 12 hours after, for the last time in her life, she was running with the wind, doing what mankind bred her to do.
Ruffian is buried near the flagpole in Belmont Park, and is not forgotten by a whole nation, and in fact a new generation of racegoers. She never will be.
Read Ruffian´s story in Janet Schwartz´ truely marvelous book: "Ruffian-Burning from the start", a new edition has recently been published. Unputdownable!
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Reduce Miesque´s unique career to formfacts and figures, and you will find 12 wins from 16 lifetime starts, with 3 second and one third place. Take a closer look though, and you will find a superstar, a filly with so much ability, so tough and determined, a true international "jet-set" performer with a record to dream about.
Miesque (*1984; Nureyev-Pasodoble, by Prove Out) was bred by Stavros Niarchos´ Flaxman Holding Ltd., and raced on his colours, as did, in fact, Nureyev. Nureyev, whose short career on the track was notorius for his controversial disqualification in the English 2000 Guineas, later broke a leg when already a sire, and dedicated staff and pioneering surgery safed his life for stud duties; he would be never allowed a free step again after. In between the riches Nureyev sired in his long and honourable stallion career (his offspring too many to count), his daughter Miesque still holds a special place: she broke records and caputered hearts; and she was different from so many other top-class racemares, as she did become a top-class broodmare after her career on the turf was finished.
Trained by the late french master Francois Boutin, the coarse and - to be honest- not very handsome Miesque raced 4 times as a two-year-old. But handsome is as handsome does, and Miesque did so many handsome things when racing: winning 3 times as a juvenile (2xGr.I) and was named Champion 2-year-old in France, she went on to become not only Champion Filly and Miler in France, but in England too, and she was named US Female Turf Champion as well. Miesque was breathtaking at 3, and nearly unbeatable over a mile; her two "losses" (if that is what you call a 2nd place) came in the Prix de Diane over 2000m, and in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes; this was over a mile, but it was not her day. Her victories though make even more impressive reading: Miesque captured the French and the English 1000 Guineas, she beat the boys the Prix Moulin and in the Prix Jacques le Marois; oh, and she beat the world in the Breeder´s Cup Mile, in new course record at Hollywood Park as well! Miesque would become the first horse, colt or filly, to score back-to-back victories at the Breeder´s Cup Meeting, when she took the Mile again in 1988, again in new course record time, at Churchhill Downs this year. In a very selected campaign, all revolving around her second Breeder´s Cup bid, Miesque had taken the Jacques le Marois and the Prix de Ispahan earlier in the year.
Miesque´s first foal arrived in 1990, and what a horse that was: named Kingmambo, he too would prove a superior racer and a phenomen in the breeding shed. Next came the wonderful East of the Moon, who would win where her mother didn´t when taking the Prix de Diane in her 3-year-old-season; and straight after "Miesque´s Son" was born, not as good a racehorse as the former two, but with a lot of talent all the same; and he would go on sire a horse so much better than himself when Whipper started to put his foot on the racetrack.
Miesque´s last reported foal was born in 2004; she already left a legacy; and her name will be found in the pedigree´s of great horses in many years to come.
Ouija Board (with Owner Lord Derby) parading before all went wrong in Sandown´s Eclipse Stakes, 2006:
(Photo: Carol Morrison)
Image: Ouija Board & Lord Derby
Ouija Board (*2001, Cape Cross-Selection Board (Welsh Pageant)) is the youngest member of this exclusive group, and should be the youngest member for some time to come. No time has elapsed yet to make her truly part of the racing folklore, but believe me, that´s just what Ouija Board will be in due course. This is a mare of highest quality, and she already fully deserves to be mentioned here.
Ouija Board was born into the deepest legacy in the racing world, as her owner-breeder is no other than the 19th Earl of Derby. Though deeply interested in racing, the current Earl´s racing and breeding operation does not match those of his ancestors, he nontheless keeps a small, selective broodmare band. Amongst those was the mare Selection Board from the immediate family of star-racer Teleprompter; the horse she was to foal would even surpass his achievements.
Ouija Board had an unauspicious 2-year-old season, with only small hints to future glory. She did win once and was placed (albeit in a Listed race), but only the most optimistic onlookers on that damp november Newmarket afternoon would have guessed they saw a future Champion Filly & dual Breeder´s Cup winner!!
Ouija Board was nothing short of spectacular in her 3-year-old season: she started with a bang when winning the Pretty Polly Stakes (Gr.3), then made completing the Oaks-Double look oh so easy. Thrown it at the deep end against the boys after that, the Prix d´l Arc de Triomphe brought her first 2004-defeat; however, she was so unlucky in running on that occasion that many felt she was the moral winner. Ouija Board then went where every self-respecting racehorse has to travel nowadays at the end of October; it was Breeder´s Cup (in Texas) next, and, with the sensibly chosen Filly&Mare Turf as her target, all others were victim´s rather than opponents. There never ever was a doubt about the winner, a very confident Kieren Fallon only had to shake the reins.
Ouija Board was late to hand in 2005, and connections did well never to push her too soon. She picked up a small race on her way to Far-East success, and all the patience was gloriously rewarded when Ouija Board stormed home in Sha Tin to take the Group 1 Hongkong Vase against a very useful field. While it is rare for any top-class filly to stay in training as a 4-year-old, Ouija Board´s very competetive connections felt the filly, now a mare, had still more to give and decided to share her with her fan´s for yet another season. 2006 is unfolding in front of our eyes now, and it is safe to say that Ouija Board has never been better. The burst of speed that carried her to the front against the boys in the Prince of Wales Stakes at Royal Ascot had to be seen to be believed, ( RP:"Given that it wasn't run at an end-to-end gallop, many experts will knock the 2006 Prince Of Wales's, but the race was very likely still the platform for the greatest performance yet from the quite wonderful OUIJA BOARD. Settled on the rail in fifth from Swinley Bottom to the straight, she travelled beautifully under Olivier Peslier - not surprising, given the sedate tempo - but still had a few lengths to find on levelling up. Also, she was momentarily checked and had to be brought wide to challenge a furlong and a half out, and as a result was required to accelerate, having lost momentum. However, when she did quicken, she did so in outstanding fashion, mowing down those in front of her until heading Electrocutionist inside the final half-furlong. Once in front, she pulled half a length clear and arguably won a shade cosily. - Quotes: "The trainers have to be sensible and trainers can make comments like 'If you want to win at Ascot, you want to be going for the Hardwick' while owners can say 'Let's give our superstar a real chance to take on the best' and she has won one of the great ten furlong race in the world. It's just an awesome feeling. This girl tries hard every time. Sometimes things go against her, or she is beaten by another great horse, but many say that is the best run she has ever had. She took on two great winners from Dubai and for her to win is unbelievable. It's an owners dream to win big races, and to win any at Royal Ascot is awesome, but to win the big one after this amazing new stand has been opened is the most unbelievable feeling. What a girl. Huge credit to Ed [Dunlop] and all his team - Lord Derby, owner; This was the best run of her life, and she has had some good ones. She has beaten the two highest-rated ten furlong horses in Europe, if not the world. To be honest I wanted to run in the Hardwicke or the Eclipse. It was Teddy's decision to go for this. She probably didn't quite stay in the Coronation Cup, in which Shirocco was incredibly impressive - he is the probably the best mile-and-a-half horse in Europe. The time she did Hong Kong in the last two furlongs was amazing. Ed Dunlop, trainer), and, after Ouija Board endured a nightmarish passage in the Eclipse Stakes, it was Glorious Goodwood next: The Nassau-Stakes against the same sex was the logical aim, and racegoers were treated with a race so powerful, dramatic, breathtaking and simply wonderful - it will be forever etched in our memory. Two great mares in Alexander Goldrun and the very Ouija Board fighting it out from the three furlong maker with -as always when two horses giving their all - the loser being a winner as well. (RP: "This looked an exceptionally strong renewal on paper with the winners of 13 Group 1 races on show. Not one of the seven runners was rated less than 110, while the contest provided an intriguing clash of the generations with a trio of three-year-olds - including the Coronation Stakes and Fillies' Mile winner - taking on a quartet of older horses that included two of the very best racemares of recent years. In short, it looked a cracker, with the only worry beforehand being the possible absence of early pace. However, that fear was not borne out after Chelsea Rose set a respectable gallop, followed just behind by OUIJA BOARD, ridden much more prominently than on occasions in the past and considerably more so than in the nightmare that was the Eclipse.
Sent to the front three furlongs out by Frankie Dettori, who was keen for his mount not to be outspeeded by the specialist milers, Ouija Board was almost immediately joined by Alexander Goldrun and for well over two furlongs the two five-year-olds engaged in a stirring tussle that seemed to be edging the way of Alexander Goldrun until Ouija Board got her head back in front in the final stride. Both mares emerged from the fight with the utmost credit.
Almost every superlative has already been heaped upon Ouija Board - deservedly so - and she is worthy of them being repeated after this her sixth top-flight triumph. It is impossible to say what would have happened had she not been so horribly and repeatedly hampered in the Eclipse, but she went to Sandown on the highest of highs after defeating Electrocutionist and the subsequent Sandown victor David Junior at Royal Ascot. Previously second to Shirocco in the Coronation Cup after another unlucky defeat in Hong Kong and an earlier troubled trip around Nad Al Sheba, she underlined here both her toughness and durability. While Dettori's ride was exemplary, he was also obliged to ride Ouija Board in a way that probably did not suit her, as she likes to have a target at which to aim. Nevertheless, she overcame that to score and, while this may not rank as her very best performance judged on a literal interpretation of the form, it comes pretty close given that the 117-rated Nannina was a tad over two lengths back in third. Her own wellbeing has continually delayed her mid-season break, but she surely deserves that break now prior to an autumn campaign that will no doubt revolve primarily around a bid to win back her Breeders' Cup crown. The most popular Flat racehorse in Britain by some way, she is one of the finest racemares we have seen and her connections should once again be applauded for campaigning her so enthusiastically. Quotes: "I hope everyone enjoyed it - it sounded like they did. It was an amazing race to watch and we were lucky enough to win it. It was a great testament to both horses, a great race, and I’m delighted we’ve won. - Ed Dunlop, trainer She’s one of the all-time favourite horses of England. A special filly, one of a kind. - Frankie Dettori, jockey ")
The winner of six Group 1 races so far, Ouija Board is by no means finished yet, and even if she is unlikely to grace the british turf again, we shall be in for more top-class moments on some foreign soils.
Update Feb. 2008: Some time has elapsed since I wrote the lines above, and Ouija Board was able to add one more glittering win to her CV when becoming only the seventh horse to win at two Breeder´s Cup Meetings, repeating her 2004 Lone Star success in 2006 at Churchill Downs. Before that Ouija Board failed narrowly to give weight to the 3-year-old Dylan Thomas, who edged her out in the Irish Champion Stakes. Ouija Board then went Far-East and finished a strong 3rd in the Japan Cup, but an untimely injury curtailed her campain and robbed her of her swansong race in HongKong. Ouja Board was retired and covered by Kingmambo, a son of course of the wonderful Miesque (see her own chapter), in 2007, and we are happy to report that she gave birth to a little colt some days ago (9th of Feb. 2008). We are even happier to report that news broke that Ouija Board will visit German Champion Sire Monsun as her 2008 date, boosting the old boys book no end. We wish Ouija Board and all her offspring the very best for the future! If they turn out only half as good as their fabled mum, they will be pretty decent!
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Personal Ensign (*1984 by Private Account-Grecian Banner - Hoist the Flag) certainly was a superior female racehorse. Like Miesque, she turned into a valuable broodmare after her racing days were over (giving birth to four (!) Group 1 winners, all Champions like she was one), but her superlatives do not stop here: Personal Ensign became the first undefeated Champion Racehorse (Ruffian technically WAS defeated, as she could not finish her last race) in the 20th Century in America, she ran in a race that stopped the Nation, now a Classic of it´s kind, AND she overcame a potentially life-threatning injury to resume winning ways, thus making sure she would always stay close to the Nation´s heart.
Personal Ensign was bred, owned and raced by Ogden Phipps, himself a heavyweight in American racing. Racing was a family tradition for years, nearly centuries, but Personal Ensign singlehandedly ended a long spell of rather unsuccessful years. Her dam was only a minor racer, stemming from an argentinian damline; mated with the best blood America had to offer, Phipps found his Champion to resume winning ways.
Chestnut mare, 1996
by Acatenango - Fabula Dancer (Northern Dancer)
Breeder&Owner: Gestüt Park Wiedingen
Flamingo Road with her distinctive face marking, out in the paddock, Wiedingen Stud, Sep.2006
Photo: Jim Clark
Image: Head portrait Flaming Road
German breeding is on a high at moment, but German racing is in decline for some time now, so it is hard for local horses to get the recognition they so fully deserve. Flamingo Road was a very high-class filly, one of the best female horses to race in this country, but she only left Germany twice, and chose both occasions to have an off-day, so you are forgiven if you have to read this to get to know her. She caught our imagination though, and still has her fan´s out here who care and inquire about her to the day.
Flamingo Road was born in 1996, a chestnut daughter of a chestnut sire, Acatenango. He was a true german star (read his entry in the Racing Great section) who turned from being a top-notch athlete to being a top-notch sire. Flamingo Road was out of Fabula Dancer, a daughter of the mighty Northern Dancer, and it was clear from the moment the little light-brown filly foal saw the light of day in one of Wiedingen´s spacious boxes that she would be special. You only had to look at her to know she would be a stand-out as she was born with that distinctive white face marking so clearly visible in the top photo; she really only fulfilled destiny in her wonderful racing career. People were able to recognize her immediatly, she was easy to pick in any paradering, and that no doubt added to her immense popularity over here.
As a daughter of Acatenago Flamingo Road was not an early horse, she was not rushed and never ran as a two-year-old. Her first race was a little maiden race over 1m3f, but she wasted little time in showing what a special racehorse she would be: second in the betting behind a certain Catella,who turned out to be outstanding too, Flamingo had no match, soon it was a two-horse race but when stamina began to tell in the closing stages it was Flamingo who possesed most, she drew away from Catella by seven, with the latter passing the post 17 length in front of the nearest persuer. It was uphill after that, after an easy win in a Listed race Flamingo Road would never ever contest below Group-Race Standard, and after she took the German Oaks in decisive fashion from yet another high-class filly, the German 1000 Guineas heroine Rose of Zollern, she was never asked to compete just against her own sex either; she had to take on the boys in every race. She would not win too often (in fact she would never again be able to beat Catella), but we would know a lot more about our breed if they all would be campaigned as she was, in high-class races, against high-class opponents. Flamingo Road had to fight in her races, and fighting she did. She would sometimes disappoint the punters when perfoming below expectations at skinny odds, but her durability and class carried her to third place in the German Derby (Gr.I), to second place (behind Tiger Hill) in the Großer Preis von Baden (Gr.I); she did contest the Arc in 1999 but was no match for the mighty Montjeu; but she beat what was put against her when bouncing back to wonderful form in the Gr.II Großer Hansa-Preis in Hamburg in the summer of 2000. After two below-par performances she ws retired that year, with 12 lifetime starts resulting in 4 wins and 6 places; she was rated 97kg (114).
Flamingo Road is a broodmare now, but it is too early to tell whether she will be able to pass her superior merits on to her offspring. She is getting all the best chances, so it will be fascinating to see their development.
What a belly! - and not a posh racehorse anymore - Flamingo Road grazing...:
Image: What a belly!
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