Embassy (horse)
Encyclopedia
Embassy was a British champion Thoroughbred
racehorse and broodmare. She won three of her four starts as a two-year-old including the Group One
Cheveley Park Stakes
and the Group Three Princess Margaret Stakes
. She was named European Champion Two-year old Filly at the Cartier Racing Awards, and was the highest rated two-year-old filly in the International Classification. At the end of her two-year-old season she was transferred to the Godolphin Racing team, but never ran again.
. She was sired by the sprinter Cadeaux Genereux out of Pass The Peace.
Cadeaux Genereux won several major sprint races including the Nunthorpe Stakes
and the July Cup
. At stud he sired over 1,000 winners including Touch of the Blues (Atto Mile), Bijou d'Inde (St. James's Palace Stakes
) and Toylsome (Prix de la Forêt
). Pass The Peace won the Cheveley Park Stakes in 1988 and was also the dam of the Pretty Polly Stakes winner Tarfshi.
Embassy was trained for all her races by David Loder at Newmarket, Suffolk.
. Pat Eddery
tracked the leaders on Embassy before sending her into the lead a furlong out and winning by one and a quarter lengths from a field that included the future May Hill Stakes
winner Midnight Line.
Just over two weeks later, Embasssy was stepped up to Group Three
level for the Princess Margaret Stakes
at Ascot
, for which she was made joint-favourite with Miss Zafonic. Embassy moved into the lead inside the last quarter mile and went clear to win by two lengths.
For her next start Embassy was sent to York
for the Group Two Lowther Stakes
, in which she mas matched against the Queen Mary Stakes
winner Nadwah and the highly-regarded Cape Verdi
. Embassy took the lead, but drifted left inside the final furlong and was caught on the line and beaten a short head by Cape Verdi, who was receiving three pounds. Pat Eddery received some criticism from observers who felt that he had been too easy on Embassy in the closing stages.
On her final start, Embassy met Cape Verdi again in the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes
at Newmarket
in which she was ridden by Kieren Fallon
. Since the York race Cape Verdi had been bought by Godolphin, and she started the 11/8 favourite ahead of Embassy on 5/2. Fallon held his filly up in the early stages before bringing her up to challenge for the lead a furlong out. Embassy quickened well and pulled clear of the field to win by two and a half lengths from Crazee Mental, with Cape Verdi fourth. After the race Loder paid tribute to the filly's "tremendous acceleration" and the bookmakers made her 6/1 clear favourite for the following year's 1000 Guineas.
to the Godolphin racing team and joined the stable of Saeed Bin Suroor
. She spent the winter in Dubai
and was returned to England the following spring. She was identified by Godolphin's racing manager, Simon Crisford as one of Godolphin's biggest hopes for 1998, despite a "minor scare" in training in March which required veterinary attention. A disappointing performance in a private Godolphin trial in April saw her supplanted by Cape Verdi at the head of the betting for the Guineas. Embassy was still expected to run in the 1000 Guineas, but a few days before the event it was announced that she had not made the expected progress and would miss the race.
Embassy never recovered her form and her retirement was announced in August 1998.
She was also named European Champion Two-year-old filly at the Cartier Racing Awards.
winner King's Apostle.
Embassy was scheduled to be auctioned in December 2009 at Tattersalls, but was withhdrawn from sale.
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 and broodmare. She won three of her four starts as a two-year-old including the Group One
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...
Cheveley Park Stakes
Cheveley Park Stakes
The Cheveley Park Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.The event was...
and the Group Three Princess Margaret Stakes
Princess Margaret Stakes
The Princess Margaret Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July....
. She was named European Champion Two-year old Filly at the Cartier Racing Awards, and was the highest rated two-year-old filly in the International Classification. At the end of her two-year-old season she was transferred to the Godolphin Racing team, but never ran again.
Background
Embassy was bred by her owner Sheikh MohammedMohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum , also Sheikh Mohammed, , is the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates , and absolute monarch of Dubai.-Personal life and education:...
. She was sired by the sprinter Cadeaux Genereux out of Pass The Peace.
Cadeaux Genereux won several major sprint races including the Nunthorpe Stakes
Nunthorpe Stakes
The Nunthorpe Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged two years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 5 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
and the July Cup
July Cup
The July Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July....
. At stud he sired over 1,000 winners including Touch of the Blues (Atto Mile), Bijou d'Inde (St. James's Palace Stakes
St. James's Palace Stakes
The St. James's Palace Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
) and Toylsome (Prix de la Forêt
Prix de la Forêt
The Prix de la Forêt 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 1,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.-History:The race was established in 1858,...
). Pass The Peace won the Cheveley Park Stakes in 1988 and was also the dam of the Pretty Polly Stakes winner Tarfshi.
Embassy was trained for all her races by David Loder at Newmarket, Suffolk.
1997: two-year-old season
Embassy began her career as the odds-on favourite for a maiden race at NewmarketNewmarket 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...
. Pat Eddery
Pat Eddery
Patrick James John "Pat" Eddery is a former flat racing jockey. Pat's father Jimmy Eddery was a jockey, as is his brother Paul Eddery.-Career:...
tracked the leaders on Embassy before sending her into the lead a furlong out and winning by one and a quarter lengths from a field that included the future May Hill Stakes
May Hill Stakes
The May Hill Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September....
winner Midnight Line.
Just over two weeks later, Embasssy was stepped up to Group Three
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...
level for the Princess Margaret Stakes
Princess Margaret Stakes
The Princess Margaret Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July....
at 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...
, for which she was made joint-favourite with Miss Zafonic. Embassy moved into the lead inside the last quarter mile and went clear to win by two lengths.
For her next start Embassy was sent to York
York Racecourse
York Racecourse is a horse racing track in the southwest of the city of York in North Yorkshire, England with a spectator capacity of 60,000. The most famous race to be held at York on an annual basis is the Ebor Handicap, which is run during the Ebor Festival meeting in August...
for the Group Two Lowther Stakes
Lowther Stakes
The Lowther Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at York over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August.-History:...
, in which she mas matched against the Queen Mary Stakes
Queen Mary Stakes
The Queen Mary Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 5 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
winner Nadwah and the highly-regarded Cape Verdi
Cape Verdi
Cape Verdi is a retired, Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. She was trained in England and Dubai during a racing career which consisted of eight races between May 1997 and July 1999. In 1998 she won the 1000 Guineas by five lengths and was the beaten favourite in the Epsom Derby. She was named the...
. Embassy took the lead, but drifted left inside the final furlong and was caught on the line and beaten a short head by Cape Verdi, who was receiving three pounds. Pat Eddery received some criticism from observers who felt that he had been too easy on Embassy in the closing stages.
On her final start, Embassy met Cape Verdi again in the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes
Cheveley Park Stakes
The Cheveley Park Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.The event was...
at Newmarket
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...
in which she was ridden by Kieren Fallon
Kieren Fallon
Kieren Francis Fallon is a professional flat racing jockey and has been British Champion Jockey six times....
. Since the York race Cape Verdi had been bought by Godolphin, and she started the 11/8 favourite ahead of Embassy on 5/2. Fallon held his filly up in the early stages before bringing her up to challenge for the lead a furlong out. Embassy quickened well and pulled clear of the field to win by two and a half lengths from Crazee Mental, with Cape Verdi fourth. After the race Loder paid tribute to the filly's "tremendous acceleration" and the bookmakers made her 6/1 clear favourite for the following year's 1000 Guineas.
1998: three-year-old season
Embassy was transferred by Sheikh MohammedMohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum , also Sheikh Mohammed, , is the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates , and absolute monarch of Dubai.-Personal life and education:...
to the Godolphin racing team and joined the stable of 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....
. She spent 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...
and was returned to England the following spring. She was identified by Godolphin's racing manager, Simon Crisford as one of Godolphin's biggest hopes for 1998, despite a "minor scare" in training in March which required veterinary attention. A disappointing performance in a private Godolphin trial in April saw her supplanted by Cape Verdi at the head of the betting for the Guineas. Embassy was still expected to run in the 1000 Guineas, but a few days before the event it was announced that she had not made the expected progress and would miss the race.
Embassy never recovered her form and her retirement was announced in August 1998.
Race record
| Date | Race | Dist (f) | Course | Class | Prize (£K) | Odds | Runners | Placing | Margin | Time | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chippenham Lodge Maiden Stakes | 6 | Newmarket July 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... |
M | 6 | 10/11 | 13 | 1 | 1.25 | 1:14.00 | Pat Eddery Pat Eddery Patrick James John "Pat" Eddery is a former flat racing jockey. Pat's father Jimmy Eddery was a jockey, as is his brother Paul Eddery.-Career:... |
David Loder David Loder David Loder is a retired trainer of Thoroughbred racehorses.David Loder is the son of Simon Loder, of the family of Loder Baronets, by Sandra Fleming, a descendant of Robert Fleming... |
|
| Princess Margaret Stakes Princess Margaret Stakes The Princess Margaret Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.... |
6 | 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... |
3 | 23 | 5/2 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1:16.80 | Pat Eddery Pat Eddery Patrick James John "Pat" Eddery is a former flat racing jockey. Pat's father Jimmy Eddery was a jockey, as is his brother Paul Eddery.-Career:... |
David Loder David Loder David Loder is a retired trainer of Thoroughbred racehorses.David Loder is the son of Simon Loder, of the family of Loder Baronets, by Sandra Fleming, a descendant of Robert Fleming... |
|
| Lowther Stakes Lowther Stakes The Lowther Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at York over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August.-History:... |
6 | York York Racecourse York Racecourse is a horse racing track in the southwest of the city of York in North Yorkshire, England with a spectator capacity of 60,000. The most famous race to be held at York on an annual basis is the Ebor Handicap, which is run during the Ebor Festival meeting in August... |
2 | 45 | 11/4 | 9 | 2 | short head | 1:12.48 | Pat Eddery Pat Eddery Patrick James John "Pat" Eddery is a former flat racing jockey. Pat's father Jimmy Eddery was a jockey, as is his brother Paul Eddery.-Career:... |
David Loder David Loder David Loder is a retired trainer of Thoroughbred racehorses.David Loder is the son of Simon Loder, of the family of Loder Baronets, by Sandra Fleming, a descendant of Robert Fleming... |
|
| Cheveley Park Stakes Cheveley Park Stakes The Cheveley Park Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.The event was... |
6 | 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 | 63 | 5/2 | 8 | 1 | 2.5 | 1:12.26 | Kieren Fallon Kieren Fallon Kieren Francis Fallon is a professional flat racing jockey and has been British Champion Jockey six times.... |
David Loder David Loder David Loder is a retired trainer of Thoroughbred racehorses.David Loder is the son of Simon Loder, of the family of Loder Baronets, by Sandra Fleming, a descendant of Robert Fleming... |
Assessment
In the International Classification for 1997, Embassy was given a rating of 118, making her officially the best two-year-old filly in Europe.She was also named European Champion Two-year-old filly at the Cartier Racing Awards.
Stud career
At stud Emabssy has produced at least four minor winners: Diplomatic, Grosvenor Square, Felicitous and Gleneagles. She also produced Politesse, who was the dam of the Prix Maurice de GheestPrix Maurice de Gheest
The Prix Maurice de Gheest is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 1,300 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August.-History:...
winner King's Apostle.
Embassy was scheduled to be auctioned in December 2009 at Tattersalls, but was withhdrawn from sale.