Ezzoud
Encyclopedia
Ezzoud was a Thoroughbred
racehorse bred in Ireland
and trained in the United Kingdom
during a racing career which lasted from 1991 to 1994. He is best known for winning consecutive runnings of the International Stakes
at York
.
and Breeders' Cup Mile
winner Last Tycoon
, he was out of the mare Royal Sister, making him a half-brother to the Sussex Stakes
winner Distant Relative. His pedigree made him a valuable propect and he fetched 360,000 guineas when put through the sales ring as a yearling. Bought by Sheikh Maktoum Al Maktoum
, he was put into training with Michael Stoute at Newmarket.
He came to be regarded as a highly-talented but unpredictable performer, who usually raced in a visor
. His lack of consistency sometimes made him unpopular- according to Richard Edmondson, writing in the Independent
, he was "called more names than the fat boy in the school playground"- and he was a notably lazy worker at home.
Ezzoud (ازود) is an Arabic
term which can be translated as "provider" or "I provide".
graduation stakes (a race open to horses who have won no more than once previously). On his next start he ran in the highly competitive Tiffany Highflyer Stakes. The field of thirty two-year-olds included the future Derby
winner Dr. Devious, and the inexperienced Ezzoud finished well down the field after racing prominently for much of the way.
Easter Stakes
, then won a minor stakes event at Sandown
, beating the future July Cup
winner Hamas. From this point on, he was campaigned at the highest level, beginning with a length defeat by Rodrigo de Triano
in the Irish 2000 Guineas
. At Royal Ascot he produced another placed effort, finishing third to Brief Truce in the St. James's Palace Stakes
, ahead of Rodrigo de Triano and Arazi. After running unplaced behind St Jovite
when attempting the mile-and-a-half distance in the Irish Derby his season was cut short by injury.
at Newmarket, beating Cloud of Dust by one and a half lengths. He was then sent to Ireland, where he was made favourite for the Tattersalls Gold Cup
(then a Group Two Race), but after taking the lead a furlong from the finish, he was caught in the last strides and beaten a short head by George Augustus. He was made favourite again in his next race, and again he disappointed his supporters, finishing unplaced in the Prince of Wales's Stakes
at Royal Ascot.
In the International Stakes, he was ignored by the betting public and started the race as a 28-1 outsider whilst the inexperienced three-year-old Sabrehill was made favourite. He produced an upset, however, making a strong run in the straight he "swept past" Sabrehill inside the last furlong and win the Group One prize by one and a half lengths. After the race his trainer, Michael Stoute, explained his view that the horse had been misunderstood: "People think these horses with high head carriages are absolute crabs but that's not always the case. He's more lazy than anything else and he's answered the questions today".
Ezzoud's unpredictable form continued into the autumn. He made no impression in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
but then proved the best of the British horses in the Champion Stakes
. He challenged for the lead a furlong from the finish, before finishing a good second to the French-trained filly Hatoof
. As the first two were both owned by Maktoum al Maktoum, whose family sponsored the race, the prize money was donated to charity. Ezzoud ended the season by running unplaced in the Breeders' Cup Classic
, behind the 133-1 winner Arcangues
.
, finishing sixth after being bumped by one of his opponents in the Longchamp straight. He then finished third in his second attempt at the Tattersalls Gold Cup before a narrow defeat to Muhtarram
in the Prince of Wales's Stakes.
Ezzoud's appearance was not impressive before the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown as he sweated profusely in the paddock, but he went on to record his second Group I victory. He raced in the middle of the field before making his challenge and defeated the St Leger
winner Bob's Return by a length and a half, despite hanging right in the closing stages, with the Derby
winner Erhaab
in third. Michael Stoute praised his colt, whilst acknowledging his "cranky" nature: "he is sometimes a bit of a lad at home. But you can't fault him on the racecourse".
Ezzoud played a significant, but unexpected role in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes three weeks later. He swerved leaving the starting-stalls, unseating his jockey Walter Swinburn
, and then galloped alongside the leaders for the rest of the race, causing interference to several of his rivals, the effect being compared to "a bowling ball scattering tenpins".
He returned to his best, however, for his second attempt at the International Stakes. In this race, Ezzoud disproved those who had labeled him ungenuine, getting the better of Muhtarram
by a neck, with the rest of a top quality field including King's Theatre
and Grand Lodge
finishing well-beaten. His rider, Walter Swinburn, celebrated with uncharacteristic emotion by throwing his whip into the crowd. In his second attempt at the Arc he produced his best performance over the mile-and-a-half distance, challenging strongly in the straight and taking fourth place in a driving finish, less than a length behind the winner Carnegie . After a final unplaced effort in the Breeders' Cup Classic he was retired to stud.
rated Ezzoud at 87p as a two-year-old, 120 as a three-year-old and 123 as a four-year-old, before awarding him a peak rating of 126 as a five-year-old in 1994.
. He died after only four seasons, having suffered a series of complications following an operation for laminitis
. His best offspring was the Lancashire Oaks
winner, Ela Athena.
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 Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
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...
during a racing career which lasted from 1991 to 1994. He is best known for winning consecutive runnings of the International Stakes
International Stakes
The International Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 88 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
at 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...
.
Background
Ezzoud was bred in Ireland by T J Monaghan. Sired by the Nunthorpe StakesNunthorpe 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 Breeders' Cup Mile
Breeders' Cup Mile
The Breeders' Cup Mile is a Grade 1 Weight for Age stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up, run on a grass course. It has been conducted annually as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships since the event's inception in 1984...
winner Last Tycoon
Last Tycoon
Last Tycoon was an Irish bred Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the Breeders' Cup Mile and as a leading sire in Australia.-Background:Bred in Ireland by Kilfrush Stud Ltd., he was purchased by Richard C...
, he was out of the mare Royal Sister, making him a half-brother to the Sussex Stakes
Sussex Stakes
The Sussex Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August.-History:...
winner Distant Relative. His pedigree made him a valuable propect and he fetched 360,000 guineas when put through the sales ring as a yearling. Bought by Sheikh 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:...
, he was put into training with Michael Stoute at Newmarket.
He came to be regarded as a highly-talented but unpredictable performer, who usually raced in a visor
Blinders
Blinders, also known as blinkers or winkers, are a piece of horse tack that prevent the horse seeing to the rear and, in some cases, to the side. They usually are made of leather or plastic cups that are placed on either side of the eyes, either attached to a bridle or to an independent hood...
. His lack of consistency sometimes made him unpopular- according to Richard Edmondson, writing in the Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, he was "called more names than the fat boy in the school playground"- and he was a notably lazy worker at home.
Ezzoud (ازود) is an Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
term which can be translated as "provider" or "I provide".
1991: two-year-old season
Ezzoud's two-year-old career was brief, beginning with a short-head win in a DoncasterDoncaster Racecourse
Doncaster Racecourse is a racecourse in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. It hosts two of Great Britain's 31 Group 1 flat races, the St Leger Stakes and the Racing Post Trophy.- History :...
graduation stakes (a race open to horses who have won no more than once previously). On his next start he ran in the highly competitive Tiffany Highflyer Stakes. The field of thirty two-year-olds included the future 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...
winner Dr. Devious, and the inexperienced Ezzoud finished well down the field after racing prominently for much of the way.
1992: three-year-old season
At three, he began with a short-head defeat to Lucky Lindy in the ListedConditions 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...
Easter Stakes
Easter Stakes
The Easter Stakes was a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain which was open to three-year-old Thoroughbred colts and geldings. It was run at Kempton Park over a distance of 1 mile , and it was scheduled to take place each year, usually on the Saturday of Easter weekend in March or April.The...
, then won a minor stakes event at Sandown
Sandown Racecourse
Sandown Racecourse is one of the four horse racing venues located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Built for the Victoria Amateur Turf Club, it is the only metropolitan racecourse built in the 20th century and was opened before a crowd of 52,000, in June 1965.Sandown Racecourse is situated 25...
, beating the future 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....
winner Hamas. From this point on, he was campaigned at the highest level, beginning with a length defeat by Rodrigo de Triano
Rodrigo de Triano
Rodrigo de Triano is an English Thoroughbred Champion racehorse. Bred and raced by leading British horseman, Robert Sangster, he was out of the mare Hot Princess and sired by El Gran Senor, a sire of fifty-five stakes race winners.Trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam, Rodrigo de Triano made his debut on...
in the Irish 2000 Guineas
Irish 2000 Guineas
The Irish 2,000 Guineas is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.-History:...
. At Royal Ascot he produced another placed effort, finishing third to Brief Truce in the 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....
, ahead of Rodrigo de Triano and Arazi. After running unplaced behind St Jovite
St Jovite
St Jovite is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred and raced by American Virginia Kraft Payson, he was sired by Pleasant Colony, winner of the 1981 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. He was out of Ms...
when attempting the mile-and-a-half distance in the Irish Derby his season was cut short by injury.
1993: four-year-old season
At four Ezzoud had some successes, but began to acquire a reputation for unpredictability. His nervous demeanour and high, awkward head carriage lead many observers to question his temperament. He began by recording his first Group win in the Earl of Sefton StakesEarl of Sefton Stakes
The Earl of Sefton Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile and 1 furlong , and it is scheduled to take place each year in mid April.The event was established in 1971, and...
at Newmarket, beating Cloud of Dust by one and a half lengths. He was then sent to Ireland, where he was made favourite for the Tattersalls Gold Cup
Tattersalls Gold Cup
The Tattersalls Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 110 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May....
(then a Group Two Race), but after taking the lead a furlong from the finish, he was caught in the last strides and beaten a short head by George Augustus. He was made favourite again in his next race, and again he disappointed his supporters, finishing unplaced in the 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....
at Royal Ascot.
In the International Stakes, he was ignored by the betting public and started the race as a 28-1 outsider whilst the inexperienced three-year-old Sabrehill was made favourite. He produced an upset, however, making a strong run in the straight he "swept past" Sabrehill inside the last furlong and win the Group One prize by one and a half lengths. After the race his trainer, Michael Stoute, explained his view that the horse had been misunderstood: "People think these horses with high head carriages are absolute crabs but that's not always the case. He's more lazy than anything else and he's answered the questions today".
Ezzoud's unpredictable form continued into the autumn. He made no impression in 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 then proved the best of the British horses in the Champion Stakes
Champion Stakes
The Champion Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three 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 October...
. He challenged for the lead a furlong from the finish, before finishing a good second to the French-trained filly Hatoof
Hatoof
Hatoof is a Thoroughbred Champion racehorse who competed internationally out of a base in Chantilly, France under trainer Criquette Head for owner Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Racing at age 2 in France, Hatoof started three times, winning once and placing second on two occasions...
. As the first two were both owned by Maktoum al Maktoum, whose family sponsored the race, the prize money was donated to charity. Ezzoud ended the season by running unplaced in the Breeders' Cup Classic
Breeders' Cup Classic
The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 year olds and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships...
, behind the 133-1 winner Arcangues
Arcangues
Arcangues is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France in what was formerly the province of Labourd.Home to the Marquis d'Arcangues, his Chateau d'Arcangues was used as the Duke of Wellington's headquarters during the December 1813 Battles of the Nive in the...
.
1994: five-year-old season
At five, he began slowly, but improved throughout the first half of the season. He was unlucky in the Prix GanayPrix Ganay
The Prix Ganay is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,100 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late April or early May....
, finishing sixth after being bumped by one of his opponents in the Longchamp straight. He then finished third in his second attempt at the Tattersalls Gold Cup before a narrow defeat to Muhtarram
Muhtarram
Muhtarram is a thoroughbred race horse. He won the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Ascot twice, in addition to the Irish Champion Stakes and the Premio Presidente della Repubblica in Italy.-External links:* at Racing Post...
in the Prince of Wales's Stakes.
Ezzoud's appearance was not impressive before the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown as he sweated profusely in the paddock, but he went on to record his second Group I victory. He raced in the middle of the field before making his challenge and defeated the St Leger
St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
winner Bob's Return by a length and a half, despite hanging right in the closing stages, with the 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...
winner Erhaab
Erhaab
Erhaab is a retired Thoroughbred race horse and active sire, bred in the United States but trained in the United Kingdom. He is best known as the winner of the Epsom Derby in 1994...
in third. Michael Stoute praised his colt, whilst acknowledging his "cranky" nature: "he is sometimes a bit of a lad at home. But you can't fault him on the racecourse".
Ezzoud played a significant, but unexpected role in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes three weeks later. He swerved leaving the starting-stalls, unseating his jockey 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...
, and then galloped alongside the leaders for the rest of the race, causing interference to several of his rivals, the effect being compared to "a bowling ball scattering tenpins".
He returned to his best, however, for his second attempt at the International Stakes. In this race, Ezzoud disproved those who had labeled him ungenuine, getting the better of Muhtarram
Muhtarram
Muhtarram is a thoroughbred race horse. He won the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Ascot twice, in addition to the Irish Champion Stakes and the Premio Presidente della Repubblica in Italy.-External links:* at Racing Post...
by a neck, with the rest of a top quality field including 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...
and Grand Lodge
Grand Lodge
A Grand Lodge, or "Grand Orient", is the usual governing body of "Craft", or "Blue Lodge", Freemasonry in a particular jurisdiction. The first Masonic Grand Lodge was established in England in 1717 as the Premier Grand Lodge of England....
finishing well-beaten. His rider, Walter Swinburn, celebrated with uncharacteristic emotion by throwing his whip into the crowd. In his second attempt at the Arc he produced his best performance over the mile-and-a-half distance, challenging strongly in the straight and taking fourth place in a driving finish, less than a length behind the winner Carnegie . After a final unplaced effort in the Breeders' Cup Classic he was retired to stud.
Assessment
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...
rated Ezzoud at 87p as a two-year-old, 120 as a three-year-old and 123 as a four-year-old, before awarding him a peak rating of 126 as a five-year-old in 1994.
Stud career
Ezzoud stood as a stallion at the Royal Studs at SandringhamSandringham, Norfolk
Sandringham is a village and civil parish in the north of the English county of Norfolk. The village is situated some south of the village of Dersingham, north of the town of King's Lynn and north-west of the city of Norwich....
. He died after only four seasons, having suffered a series of complications following an operation for laminitis
Laminitis
Laminitis is a disease that affects the feet of ungulates. It is best known in horses and cattle. Symptoms include lameness, and increased temperature in the hooves...
. His best offspring was the Lancashire Oaks
Lancashire Oaks
The Lancashire Oaks is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Haydock Park over a distance of 1 mile, 3 furlongs and 200 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early July.-History:The event was...
winner, Ela Athena.