Masked Marvel (horse)
Encyclopedia
Masked Marvel is a British Thoroughbred
racehorse best known for winning the 2011 St. Leger Stakes
.
winner Waldpark. He has been trained throughout his career by John Gosden at Newmarket, Suffolk.
He was bred by the Hertfordshire
-based Newsells Park Stud, and was sent as a yearling at Deauville Sales in August 2009 where he was sold for €260,000 to Jeremy Brummitt, the racing manager of Bjorn Neilsen.
at Ascot.
behind Genius Beast. Gosden later said that the colt was unsuited by the "tacky" ground. Masked Marvel then moved into Classic contention by beating Namibian by three lengths in the Cocked Hat Stakes
, after which he was offered at 33–1 for the Derby. His trainer spoke positively of the colt, saying that, "he stays well and I like the way he quickened".
In the Derby
he failed to cope with Epsom - Gosden described him as being "confused" by the course- and finished eighth of the thirteen runners, beaten just under nine lengths by Pour Moi
.
A month later, Masked Marvel re-appeared in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket, where he held off Census by a head in a tight finish to record his first Group race win. Despite the closeness of the finish, his rider Jimmy Fortune
felt that the colt had more in reserve and was just "idling" in front. He was then rested and did not run again for ten weeks.
The St Leger was run at an unusually strong pace, making it a thorough test of stamina. Masked Marvel passed the Ballydoyle
contender Seville two furlongs from home, opened up a clear lead, and stayed on strongly to win by three lehgths in a race record time of 3:00.44. His rider, William Buick, who had been suspended for the colt's run at Newmarket, reported that Masked Marvel finished so well that he had diffculty pulling up.
By a notable coincidence, the Gosden stable won the Irish St Leger
less than an hour later when their gelding, Duncan
dead-heated with Jukebox Jury at the Curragh
On 29 September Masked Marvel was a supplementary entry to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
for a fee of €100,000. The race had been the target for his stable companion Nathaniel
who was withdrawn because of the firm ground at Longchamp. In the race, Masked Marvel raced prominently, but faded in the straight and finished last of the sixteen runners behind Danedream
.
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 best known for winning the 2011 St. Leger Stakes
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...
.
Background
Masked Marvel was sired by Montjeu out of the German mare Waldmark. He is closely related to the 2011 Deutsches DerbyDeutsches Derby
The Deutsches Derby is a Group 1 flat horse race in Germany open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Hamburg-Horn over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July....
winner Waldpark. He has been trained throughout his career by John Gosden at Newmarket, Suffolk.
He was bred by the Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
-based Newsells Park Stud, and was sent as a yearling at Deauville Sales in August 2009 where he was sold for €260,000 to Jeremy Brummitt, the racing manager of Bjorn Neilsen.
2010: two-year-old season
Masked Marvel began his career by winning a maiden race at Sandown, staying on strongly to lead close home and win by two lengths. He was immediately stepped up into Group race company, finishing sixth to Abjer in the Autumn StakesAutumn Stakes
The Autumn Stakes is the name of several Thoroughbred horse races.* Autumn Stakes at Ascot Racecourse in Ascot, Berkshire, England* Autumn Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Canada...
at Ascot.
2011: three-year-old season
He began his three-year-old season by finishing fifth in the Sandown Classic TrialSandown Classic Trial
The Sandown Classic Trial is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 7 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late April.The event was established in 1953, and it...
behind Genius Beast. Gosden later said that the colt was unsuited by the "tacky" ground. Masked Marvel then moved into Classic contention by beating Namibian by three lengths in the Cocked Hat Stakes
Cocked Hat Stakes
The Cocked Hat Stakes is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile and 3 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May....
, after which he was offered at 33–1 for the Derby. His trainer spoke positively of the colt, saying that, "he stays well and I like the way he quickened".
In 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...
he failed to cope with Epsom - Gosden described him as being "confused" by the course- and finished eighth of the thirteen runners, beaten just under nine lengths by Pour Moi
Pour Moi
Pour Moi is an Irish-bred and French-trained thoroughbred racehorse, most noted for winning the 2011 Epsom Derby.Trained by André Fabre, Pour Moi came into Derby consideration after a last-to-first win in the Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud. He was made second-favourite for the 4 June 2011 Derby...
.
A month later, Masked Marvel re-appeared in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket, where he held off Census by a head in a tight finish to record his first Group race win. Despite the closeness of the finish, his rider Jimmy Fortune
Jimmy Fortune
Jimmy Fortune is an American country music singer. He hails from Lovingston, Virginia.-Biography:...
felt that the colt had more in reserve and was just "idling" in front. He was then rested and did not run again for ten weeks.
The St Leger was run at an unusually strong pace, making it a thorough test of stamina. Masked Marvel passed the Ballydoyle
Ballydoyle
Ballydoyle is a racehorse training facility located in County Tipperary in Ireland. It is a sister thoroughbred facility to Coolmore Stud, and both are owned by John Magnier...
contender Seville two furlongs from home, opened up a clear lead, and stayed on strongly to win by three lehgths in a race record time of 3:00.44. His rider, William Buick, who had been suspended for the colt's run at Newmarket, reported that Masked Marvel finished so well that he had diffculty pulling up.
By a notable coincidence, the Gosden stable won the Irish St Leger
Irish St Leger
The Irish St. Leger is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September....
less than an hour later when their gelding, Duncan
Duncan (horse)
Duncan is a thoroughbred racehorse. He won the Irish St. Leger at the Curragh Racecourse in a dead heat with Jukebox Jury....
dead-heated with Jukebox Jury 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...
On 29 September Masked Marvel was a supplementary entry 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...
for a fee of €100,000. The race had been the target for his stable companion Nathaniel
Nathaniel (horse)
Nathaniel is a thoroughbred colt racehorse trained by John Gosden for Lady Rothschild. Sired by the extremely important Champion Sire Galileo, out of the mare Magnificent Style, , Nathaniel is a half-brother of Playful Act...
who was withdrawn because of the firm ground at Longchamp. In the race, Masked Marvel raced prominently, but faded in the straight and finished last of the sixteen runners behind Danedream
Danedream
Danedream is a German Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2011 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in race record time. She is one of only two German trained horses to win the Arc, the other being Star Appeal in 1975...
.
Tabulated race record
| Date | Race | Dist (f) | Course | Class | Prize (£K) | Odds | Runners | Placing | Margin | Time | Jockey | Trainer |
| EBF Maiden Stakes | 8 | Sandown | M | 4 | 13/8 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 1:50.36 | William Buick William Buick William Buick is a Norwegian born flat jockey who holds both British and Danish citizenship. He shared the champion apprentice jockey title in 2008 with David Probert and won the Lester Award for Apprentice Jockey of the Year in 2007 and 2008. He first group race victory was in the St. Simon... |
John Gosden John Gosden John Gosden is a racehorse trainer. Having trained over 2,000 winners since his return to England in 1989, including winners of the Breeders' Cup Classic, the Derby, the King George, the 1,000 Guineas and the St. Leger, he is generally considered one of the most successful racehorse trainers of... |
|
| Autumn Stakes Autumn Stakes (Great Britain) The Autumn Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at on the Rowley Mile course at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in October.... |
8 | 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 | 22 | 7/2 | 8 | 6 | 11 | 1:44.84 | William Buick William Buick William Buick is a Norwegian born flat jockey who holds both British and Danish citizenship. He shared the champion apprentice jockey title in 2008 with David Probert and won the Lester Award for Apprentice Jockey of the Year in 2007 and 2008. He first group race victory was in the St. Simon... |
John Gosden John Gosden John Gosden is a racehorse trainer. Having trained over 2,000 winners since his return to England in 1989, including winners of the Breeders' Cup Classic, the Derby, the King George, the 1,000 Guineas and the St. Leger, he is generally considered one of the most successful racehorse trainers of... |
|
| Sandown Classic Trial Sandown Classic Trial The Sandown Classic Trial is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 7 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late April.The event was established in 1953, and it... |
10 | Sandown | 3 | 28 | 21/1 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 2:11.39 | William Buick William Buick William Buick is a Norwegian born flat jockey who holds both British and Danish citizenship. He shared the champion apprentice jockey title in 2008 with David Probert and won the Lester Award for Apprentice Jockey of the Year in 2007 and 2008. He first group race victory was in the St. Simon... |
John Gosden John Gosden John Gosden is a racehorse trainer. Having trained over 2,000 winners since his return to England in 1989, including winners of the Breeders' Cup Classic, the Derby, the King George, the 1,000 Guineas and the St. Leger, he is generally considered one of the most successful racehorse trainers of... |
|
| Cocked Hat Stakes Cocked Hat Stakes The Cocked Hat Stakes is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile and 3 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.... |
11 | Goodwood Goodwood Racecourse Goodwood Racecourse is a horse-racing track five miles north of Chichester, West Sussex, in England controlled by the family of the Duke of Richmond, whose seat is nearby Goodwood House... |
Listed 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... |
17 | 13/2 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2:25.55 | William Buick William Buick William Buick is a Norwegian born flat jockey who holds both British and Danish citizenship. He shared the champion apprentice jockey title in 2008 with David Probert and won the Lester Award for Apprentice Jockey of the Year in 2007 and 2008. He first group race victory was in the St. Simon... |
John Gosden John Gosden John Gosden is a racehorse trainer. Having trained over 2,000 winners since his return to England in 1989, including winners of the Breeders' Cup Classic, the Derby, the King George, the 1,000 Guineas and the St. Leger, he is generally considered one of the most successful racehorse trainers of... |
|
| 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... |
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 | 709 | 25/1 | 13 | 8 | 8.75 | 2:34.54 | William Buick William Buick William Buick is a Norwegian born flat jockey who holds both British and Danish citizenship. He shared the champion apprentice jockey title in 2008 with David Probert and won the Lester Award for Apprentice Jockey of the Year in 2007 and 2008. He first group race victory was in the St. Simon... |
John Gosden John Gosden John Gosden is a racehorse trainer. Having trained over 2,000 winners since his return to England in 1989, including winners of the Breeders' Cup Classic, the Derby, the King George, the 1,000 Guineas and the St. Leger, he is generally considered one of the most successful racehorse trainers of... |
|
| Bahrain Trophy Bahrain Trophy The Bahrain Trophy is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile and 5 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.... |
12 | 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... |
3 | 28 | 2/1 | 6 | 1 | head | 2:49.54 | Jimmy Fortune Jimmy Fortune Jimmy Fortune is an American country music singer. He hails from Lovingston, Virginia.-Biography:... |
John Gosden John Gosden John Gosden is a racehorse trainer. Having trained over 2,000 winners since his return to England in 1989, including winners of the Breeders' Cup Classic, the Derby, the King George, the 1,000 Guineas and the St. Leger, he is generally considered one of the most successful racehorse trainers of... |
|
| 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... |
14.5 | Doncaster Doncaster 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 :... |
1 | 306 | 15/2 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 3:00.44 | William Buick William Buick William Buick is a Norwegian born flat jockey who holds both British and Danish citizenship. He shared the champion apprentice jockey title in 2008 with David Probert and won the Lester Award for Apprentice Jockey of the Year in 2007 and 2008. He first group race victory was in the St. Simon... |
John Gosden John Gosden John Gosden is a racehorse trainer. Having trained over 2,000 winners since his return to England in 1989, including winners of the Breeders' Cup Classic, the Derby, the King George, the 1,000 Guineas and the St. Leger, he is generally considered one of the most successful racehorse trainers of... |
|
| 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 | 1970 | 21/1 | 16 | 16 | 26 | 2:24.49 | William Buick William Buick William Buick is a Norwegian born flat jockey who holds both British and Danish citizenship. He shared the champion apprentice jockey title in 2008 with David Probert and won the Lester Award for Apprentice Jockey of the Year in 2007 and 2008. He first group race victory was in the St. Simon... |
John Gosden John Gosden John Gosden is a racehorse trainer. Having trained over 2,000 winners since his return to England in 1989, including winners of the Breeders' Cup Classic, the Derby, the King George, the 1,000 Guineas and the St. Leger, he is generally considered one of the most successful racehorse trainers of... |