Balanchine (horse)
Encyclopedia
Balanchine is a retired Thoroughbred
racehorse, bred in the United States
and trained in the United Kingdom
and Dubai
. She is best known for defeating male opposition in the 1994 Irish Derby and for being one of the first successes for Godolphin Racing.
and a long white sock on her near-hind leg. She was bred in the USA by the Swettenham Stud, the breeding operation of her original owner, Robert Sangster. She was sired by the European Champion Two-Year-Old Storm Bird, out of the Affirmed mare Morning Devotion, making her a half-sister to the Sun Chariot Stakes
winner Red Slippers. She was originally sent into training with Peter Chapple-Hyam at Manton
.
which she "easily" won by three lengths. Two weeks later at Newbury
she led all the way to win a minor stakes event by seven lengths at odds of 2-11 in "impressive" style.
Although she had not contested a Group race
, she had established herself as a promising filly and attracted the attention of Maktoum Al Maktoum
, who bought her privately and sent her to join his family's then experimental Godolphin team.
As a Godolphin horse, she was sent to spend the winter in Dubai
under the care of Hilal Ibrahim. The idea was that the warmer conditions would allow horses to develop more quickly, giving them an advantage in the early part of the European Flat-racing season.
Balanchine was then sent to Epsom
for the Oaks Stakes
, for which she was made 6-1 third favourite. The filly coped well with the soft ground and "driving rain", staying on strongly to win by two and a half lengths and become the first Classic winner for Godolphin. Sheikh Mohammed pointed out the significance of the Balanchine's performance: 'This experiment has obviously worked. We will now have to think about campaigning horses from Dubai all over the world.'
The decision was then taken to bypass the usual fillies' targets, and instead take on the colts in the Irish Derby at the Curragh
. Balanchine justified her owners' belief, taking up the lead half a mile out and staying on strongly to win by four and a half lengths from the Epsom Derby
runner-up King's Theatre
. Her rider, Frankie Dettori
, described her as "unbelievable". It was intended that she would be rested and then aimed at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
but less than three weeks later she contracted colic
and became gravely ill. An emergency operation and intensive veterinary
treatment saved her life, but there was no prospect of her racing again that season.
(then a Group Two race) at Royal Ascot but finish fifth of the six runners behind Muhtarram, being eased down in the closing stages.
In a slowly-run Prix Foy
at Longchamp her performance suggested that she might have been coming back to her best, as she finished a short-head second to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
winner Carnegie, after leading for most of the race.
On her final start she made no impression in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, finishing down the field behind Lammtarra
. Her rider, Walter Swinburn
, said that he was "always fighting a losing battle on Balanchine."
She was then retired to stud.
.
rating of 131.
She was named European Champion Three-Year-Old Filly in the Cartier Racing Awards#Three-Year-Old Filly.
John Randall and Tony Morris, in their book "A Century of Champions" rated Balanchine the second best filly trained in Britain in the 1990s (behind Bosra Sham
) and the fourteenth best British-trained filly of the Twentieth century.
A Group II race at Meydan Racecourse
and the Group III Balanchine Stakes
at the Curragh are both named in her honour.
, Seeking The Gold
and Elusive Quality
but has never produced a runner of anything like her own ability. Her best offspring has probably been the minor stakes winner Gulf News, sired by Woodman
.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse, bred in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and trained in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
. She is best known for defeating male opposition in the 1994 Irish Derby and for being one of the first successes for Godolphin Racing.
Background
Balanchine is a "big, handsome" chestnut mare, with a prominent white blazeHorse markings
Markings on horses usually are distinctive white areas on an otherwise dark base coat color. Most horses have some markings, and they help to identify the horse as a unique individual. Markings are present at birth and do not change over the course of the horse's life...
and a long white sock on her near-hind leg. She was bred in the USA by the Swettenham Stud, the breeding operation of her original owner, Robert Sangster. She was sired by the European Champion Two-Year-Old Storm Bird, out of the Affirmed mare Morning Devotion, making her a half-sister to the Sun Chariot Stakes
Sun Chariot Stakes
The Sun Chariot Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.The...
winner Red Slippers. She was originally sent into training with Peter Chapple-Hyam at Manton
Manton, Wiltshire
Manton is a small village in Wiltshire on the outskirts of Marlborough just off the A4 Bath Road.Manton village is part of the Parish of Preshute, and as such includes St Georges Church, and Preshute Primary The Outside Chance is the only pub in the village....
.
1993: two-year-old season
Balanchine ran twice as a juvenile in September 1993. Her reputation obviously preceded her, as she was made 1-2 favourite for a fifteen runner maiden race at SalisburySalisbury Racecourse
Salisbury Racecourse is a flat racecourse in the United Kingdom featuring thoroughbred horse racing. It is located four miles from Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. Fifteen races a year are held here between early May and mid-October...
which she "easily" won by three lengths. Two weeks later at Newbury
Newbury Racecourse
Newbury Racecourse is a racecourse in the civil parish of Greenham, adjoining the town of Newbury in Berkshire, England. It has courses for flat races and over jumps...
she led all the way to win a minor stakes event by seven lengths at odds of 2-11 in "impressive" style.
Although she had not contested a Group race
Conditions races
Conditions races are horse races where the weights carried by the runners are laid down by the conditions attached to the race. Weights are allocated according to; the sex of the runners, with female runners carrying less weight than males; the age of the runners, with younger horses receiving...
, she had established herself as a promising filly and attracted the attention of Maktoum Al Maktoum
Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum , also referred to as Sheikh Maktoum was the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and the emir of Dubai.-Biography:...
, who bought her privately and sent her to join his family's then experimental Godolphin team.
As a Godolphin horse, she was sent to spend the winter in Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
under the care of Hilal Ibrahim. The idea was that the warmer conditions would allow horses to develop more quickly, giving them an advantage in the early part of the European Flat-racing season.
1994: three-year-old season
On her return to England, Balanchine was sent straight for the 1000 Guineas without a "prep" race. She started as a 20-1 outsider despite the belief that her winter preparation had given her an advantage in terms of physical maturity. She finished strongly but failed by a short head to catch the Irish-trained filly Las Meninas who set a race record of 1:36.71. The winner was the property of Balanchine's original owner Robert Sangster.Balanchine was then sent to Epsom
Epsom Downs Racecourse
Epsom Downs is a Grade 1 racecourse near Epsom, Surrey, England. The "downs" referred to in the name are part of the North Downs. The course is best known for hosting the Epsom Derby, the United Kingdom's premier thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old colts and fillies, over a mile and a half...
for the Oaks Stakes
Epsom Oaks
The Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early June....
, for which she was made 6-1 third favourite. The filly coped well with the soft ground and "driving rain", staying on strongly to win by two and a half lengths and become the first Classic winner for Godolphin. Sheikh Mohammed pointed out the significance of the Balanchine's performance: 'This experiment has obviously worked. We will now have to think about campaigning horses from Dubai all over the world.'
The decision was then taken to bypass the usual fillies' targets, and instead take on the colts in the Irish Derby at the Curragh
Curragh
The Curragh is a flat open plain of almost 5,000 acres of common land in County Kildare, Ireland, between Newbridge and Kildare. This area is well-known for Irish horse breeding and training. The Irish National Stud is located on the edge of Kildare town, beside the famous Japanese Gardens. Also...
. Balanchine justified her owners' belief, taking up the lead half a mile out and staying on strongly to win by four and a half lengths from the Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
runner-up King's Theatre
King's Theatre (horse)
King's Theatre was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire who was trained in the United Kingdom in a racing career which lasted from 1993 to 1996. He is best known for winning the 1994 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He later became a sire of both flat racers and...
. Her rider, Frankie Dettori
Frankie Dettori
Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori, MBE is an Italian horse racing jockey and celebrity. Dettori has been Champion Jockey on three occasions and has ridden the winners of more than 500 Group races.. He has had many successes in his role of stable jockey to Godolphin Racing...
, described her as "unbelievable". It was intended that she would be rested and then aimed at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
but less than three weeks later she contracted colic
Horse colic
Colic in horses is defined as abdominal pain, but it is a clinical sign rather than a diagnosis. The term colic can encompass all forms of gastrointestinal conditions which cause pain as well as other causes of abdominal pain not involving the gastrointestinal tract. The most common forms of colic...
and became gravely ill. An emergency operation and intensive veterinary
Veterinary medicine
Veterinary Medicine is the branch of science that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, disorder and injury in non-human animals...
treatment saved her life, but there was no prospect of her racing again that season.
1995: four-year-old season
Almost a year after her last start, Balanchine re-appeared as the odds-on favourite for the Prince of Wales's StakesPrince of Wales's Stakes
The Prince of Wales's Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
(then a Group Two race) at Royal Ascot but finish fifth of the six runners behind Muhtarram, being eased down in the closing stages.
In a slowly-run Prix Foy
Prix Foy
The Prix Foy is a Group 2 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbred colts and fillies aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September....
at Longchamp her performance suggested that she might have been coming back to her best, as she finished a short-head second to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
winner Carnegie, after leading for most of the race.
On her final start she made no impression in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, finishing down the field behind Lammtarra
Lammtarra
Lammtarra was an undefeated Thoroughbred racehorse who won three Group One races in 1995 and was voted the Cartier Three-Year-Old European Champion Colt...
. Her rider, Walter Swinburn
Walter Swinburn
Walter R. Swinburn is a retired flat racing jockey who competed in Great Britain and Ireland as well as internationally.Swinburn was born in Oxford...
, said that he was "always fighting a losing battle on Balanchine."
She was then retired to stud.
Race record
| Date | Race | Dist (f) | Course | Class | Prize (£K) | Odds | Runners | Placing | Margin | Time | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EBF Quidhampton Maiden Stakes | 7 | Salisbury Salisbury Racecourse Salisbury Racecourse is a flat racecourse in the United Kingdom featuring thoroughbred horse racing. It is located four miles from Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. Fifteen races a year are held here between early May and mid-October... |
M | 5 | 1/2 | 15 | 1 | 3 | 1:27.42 | John Reid | Peter Chapple-Hyam Peter Chapple-Hyam Peter Chapple-Hyam is a Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He trained Dr Devious to win the Epsom Derby in 1992 and repeated the feat with Authorized in 2007. He managed two Group One wins in his first season as a trainer in 1991... |
|
| Starflight Aviation Stakes | 7 | Newbury Newbury Racecourse Newbury Racecourse is a racecourse in the civil parish of Greenham, adjoining the town of Newbury in Berkshire, England. It has courses for flat races and over jumps... |
6 | 2/11 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 1:30.64 | John Reid | Peter Chapple-Hyam Peter Chapple-Hyam Peter Chapple-Hyam is a Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He trained Dr Devious to win the Epsom Derby in 1992 and repeated the feat with Authorized in 2007. He managed two Group One wins in his first season as a trainer in 1991... |
||
| 1,000 Guineas | 8 | Newmarket-Rowley Newmarket Racecourse The town of Newmarket, in Suffolk, England, is the headquarters of British horseracing, home to the largest cluster of training yards in the country and many key horse racing organisations. Newmarket Racecourse has two courses - the Rowley Mile Course and the July Course. Both are wide, galloping... |
1 | 112 | 20/1 | 15 | 2 | Short Head | 1:36.71 | Frankie Dettori Frankie Dettori Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori, MBE is an Italian horse racing jockey and celebrity. Dettori has been Champion Jockey on three occasions and has ridden the winners of more than 500 Group races.. He has had many successes in his role of stable jockey to Godolphin Racing... |
Hilal Ibrahim | |
| Oaks Epsom Oaks The Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early June.... |
12 | Epsom Epsom Downs Racecourse Epsom Downs is a Grade 1 racecourse near Epsom, Surrey, England. The "downs" referred to in the name are part of the North Downs. The course is best known for hosting the Epsom Derby, the United Kingdom's premier thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old colts and fillies, over a mile and a half... |
1 | 147 | 6/1 | 10 | 1 | 2.5 | 2:40.37 | Frankie Dettori Frankie Dettori Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori, MBE is an Italian horse racing jockey and celebrity. Dettori has been Champion Jockey on three occasions and has ridden the winners of more than 500 Group races.. He has had many successes in his role of stable jockey to Godolphin Racing... |
Hilal Ibrahim | |
| Irish Derby | 12 | The Curragh Curragh Racecourse The Curragh Racecourse, usually abbreviated to The Curragh, is Ireland's most important Thoroughbred race track. It is situated on the Curragh plain near Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland.- History :... |
1 | 331 | 5/1 | 9 | 1 | 3.5 | 2:32.70 | Frankie Dettori Frankie Dettori Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori, MBE is an Italian horse racing jockey and celebrity. Dettori has been Champion Jockey on three occasions and has ridden the winners of more than 500 Group races.. He has had many successes in his role of stable jockey to Godolphin Racing... |
Hilal Ibrahim | |
| Prince of Wales's Stakes Prince of Wales's Stakes The Prince of Wales's Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.... |
10 | Ascot Ascot Racecourse Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races... |
2 | 57 | 4/5 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 2:04.94 | Frankie Dettori Frankie Dettori Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori, MBE is an Italian horse racing jockey and celebrity. Dettori has been Champion Jockey on three occasions and has ridden the winners of more than 500 Group races.. He has had many successes in his role of stable jockey to Godolphin Racing... |
Saeed Bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor , is a horse racing trainer. Formerly a policeman, he took out his training license in 1994 and the following year was appointed as the trainer for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation.... |
|
| Prix Foy Prix Foy The Prix Foy is a Group 2 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbred colts and fillies aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.... |
12 | Longchamp | 3 | 26 | 1/10 | 4 | 2 | Short Head | 2:35.60 | Frankie Dettori Frankie Dettori Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori, MBE is an Italian horse racing jockey and celebrity. Dettori has been Champion Jockey on three occasions and has ridden the winners of more than 500 Group races.. He has had many successes in his role of stable jockey to Godolphin Racing... |
Saeed Bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor , is a horse racing trainer. Formerly a policeman, he took out his training license in 1994 and the following year was appointed as the trainer for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation.... |
|
| Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the... |
12 | Longchamp | 1 | 479 | 11/5 | 16 | 10 | 17.5 | 2:31.80 | Frankie Dettori Frankie Dettori Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori, MBE is an Italian horse racing jockey and celebrity. Dettori has been Champion Jockey on three occasions and has ridden the winners of more than 500 Group races.. He has had many successes in his role of stable jockey to Godolphin Racing... |
Saeed Bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor Saeed bin Suroor , is a horse racing trainer. Formerly a policeman, he took out his training license in 1994 and the following year was appointed as the trainer for Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation.... |
|
.
Assessment
At the end of her three-year-old season Balanchine was given a TimeformTimeform
Timeform Publications is a publishing company in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England founded in 1948 to provide information to fans, bettors, and others involved in the horse racing industry...
rating of 131.
She was named European Champion Three-Year-Old Filly in the Cartier Racing Awards#Three-Year-Old Filly.
John Randall and Tony Morris, in their book "A Century of Champions" rated Balanchine the second best filly trained in Britain in the 1990s (behind Bosra Sham
Bosra Sham
Bosra Sham is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse, bred in the United States and trained in the United Kingdom who won several important races between 1995 and 1997 and was one of the highest-rated fillies of modern times.-Background:...
) and the fourteenth best British-trained filly of the Twentieth century.
A Group II race at Meydan Racecourse
Meydan Racecourse
Meydan Racecourse is able to accommodate over 60,000 spectators in a 1 mile long grandstand. When not used for races it will serve as a business and conference integrated facility. A horse racing museum and gallery are also planned...
and the Group III Balanchine Stakes
Balanchine Stakes
The Balanchine Stakes, also known as the Grangecon Stud Stakes, is a Group 3 flat horse race in Ireland open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies...
at the Curragh are both named in her honour.
Stud career
Balanchine has been bred to many of the world's leading stallions, including Gone WestGone West (horse)
Gone West is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred by Dr. William O. Reed, Gone West was a son of the very influential sire, Mr. Prospector, his dam, Secrettame, was a daughter of the legendary 1973 U.S...
, Seeking The Gold
Seeking The Gold
Seeking The Gold is an American thoroughbred Stallion racehorse. He was sired by the leading stud, Mr. Prospector, who in turn was a son of Raise a Native, out of the mare, Con Game....
and Elusive Quality
Elusive Quality
Elusive Quality is a thoroughbred racehorse.Elusive Quality stands at stud at Darley America's Jonabell Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. He raced in the colours of Darley's principal, Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum. Prior to standing at Darley America he stood at Gainsborough Farm in Versailles, Kentucky...
but has never produced a runner of anything like her own ability. Her best offspring has probably been the minor stakes winner Gulf News, sired by Woodman
Woodman
-Places:* Woodman, California* Woodman, Wisconsin** Woodman , Wisconsin** Woodman , Wisconsin* Woodman Point, Western Australia, a headland on the west coast of Western Australia...
.