Moonax
Encyclopedia
Moonax was an Irish-bred, English-trained Thoroughbred
racehorse and sire. In 1994 Moonax became the first horse to win both the Classic St Leger
and the Prix Royal-Oak
and was named European Champion Stayer. He remains the only three year old to have been honoured in this way. He stayed in training until the age of six, winning only two more races, but finishing second in four Group One
races. In his later career he acquired a reputation for unpredictable and sometimes dangerous behaviour and was described as "the world's naughtiest horse". He was most unusual as a Classic winner who was raced over hurdles. He died in 2004 at the age of thirteen.
who stood 16.2 hands
high, was bred in Ireland by the Liscannor Stud. His sire, Caerleon, won the Prix du Jockey Club
and the Benson & Hedges Gold Cup
in 1983 and went on to become an “excellent” stallion, siring the winners of more than 700 races including Generous
, Marienbard
and Warrsan
. His dam, Moonsilk, never won a race, but came from a good family, being a half sister of the 1975 1000 Guineas winner, Nocturnal Spree.
Moonax was sent by the Limerick
-based Newborough Stud as a yearling to the Goffs sales in October 1992, where he was bought for IR£
37,000 by the Curragh Bloodstock Agency He entered the ownership of Sheikh Mohammed
and was sent into training with Barry Hills
at Lambourn
.
in November 1993. After running prominently for the first two furlong
s he was badly hampered, stumbled and unseated his rider Richard Quinn.
In May, Moonax was stepped up to Group Three
class for the Chester Vase
, a recognised trial for the Epsom Derby
. Moonax raced prominently and stayed on well, but had no chance with the impressive winner Broadway Flyer and finished second, beaten five lengths. Plans to run Moonax in the Derby Italiano
had to be abandoned when the colt was injured while being loaded onto the plane to Italy.
. Moonax raced in second before taking the lead in the straight, but faded in the closing stages to finish fifth. His next two races did little to dispel the notion that Moonax was some way below top class. In July he made no show when unplaced in the Deutsches Derby
and when dropped down in class for a minor race at Newbury
in August he could finish only third after leading briefly in the straight.
race at the same meeting before deciding that "there are times when you just have to have a go." Ridden for the first time by veteran jockey Pat Eddery
he was held up in last place as the pace was set by Broadway Flyer. This was part of a tactical plan by Hills, who felt that the early pace would be very strong, and that Moonax's best opportunity would be to wait for the others to tire before making his challenge. In the straight Moonax began to make steady progress, moving into a clear second place two furlongs out. Moonax caught Broadway Flyer inside the final furlong and stayed on "gamely" to win by one and a half lengths. Moonax became the longest priced winner of the race since 1921. The runner up was trained by John Hills and ridden by Michael Hills, both sons of Moonax's trainer Barry
. Barry Hills was reported to be "close to tears" after the race and commented "I am delighted to win. The only disappointment is to have beaten my sons".
It was intended that Moonax would run in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
but he was withdrawn from the race to make room in the field for another of Sheikh Mohammed's colts, Richard of York. On his final start of the season therefore, Moonax was moved up further in distance and took on older horses in the Prix Royal-Oak over 3100m at Longchamp in October. Eddery sent the colt to the front 1200m from the finish and maintained the lead into the straight. 300m from the finish he was headed by the gelding Always Earnest but "responded superbly" to regain the lead in the "last strides" to win by a short neck. He was the first, and is still the only St Leger winner to win the French race.
Plans for Moonax to join Sheikh Mohammeds's Godolphin team were modified, and he stayed under Hills' care for the rest of his career. He did, however, spend the winter of 1994–5 in with the Godolphin horses in Dubai, and wonn his first race of 1995 in the Godolphin colours.
at York
in which he carried five pounds more than his six rivals. He looked "magnificent" before the race and started 11/4 favourite. Moonax tracked the leaders before taking the lead in the straight and ran on strongly to win his third successive race, this time by one and a quarter lengths. Greg Wood writing in The Independent
, praised the colt's "authority", "strength" and "enthusiasm" and predicted that he would be hard to beat in the year's top staying events.
The rest of the season saw Moonax running well, but failing to win as he finished second in three Group One races. The first of these was the Gold Cup
at Royal Ascot in June. He started 13/8 favourite, but although he stayed on in the straight he could never reach the lead and was beaten five lengths by Double Trigger
. Moonax was off the course for three months before running in the Irish St Leger
at The Curragh
. He raced prominently, and had every chance in the straight but was beaten a head by Strategic Choice. He then attempted to win a second French Group One in the Prix du Cadran
at Longchamp and as in the previous year's Prix Royal-Oak he disputed the finish with Always Earnest. On this occasion however, it was the French-trained gelding who prevailed by a short head. The race also helped to give Moonax a reputation for unpredictable behaviour: he turned his head and attempted to bite Always Earnest in the closing stages.
at Newbury in April. He was then off the course for five months before returning for an Autumn campaign. He reappeared in a minor stakes race at Haydock in late September and recorded his first win for well over a year when defeating the Gran Premio del Jockey Club
winner Court of Honour by a length.
Before the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp in October Moonax behaved poorly, bucking violently and almost unseating his rider Frankie Dettori
. In the race he tracked the leaders before challenging them in the straight. 200m from the finish he lost his chance of winning when he swerved to the left without warning and was beaten a length by Nononito
. The explanation offered was that he was attempting to run for the exit leading to the stables. A second attempt at the Prix Royal-Oak ended in disappointment: he led for most of the race and defeated both Nononito and Always Earnest but was caught in the closing stages and beaten half a length by the mare Red Roses Story. The slow pace of the race and the resulting sprint finish were given as reasons for his defeat.
Instead of ending the horse's season, his connections decided to try Moonax over hurdles, with the intention of running him in the Champion Hurdle
in March. Those plans were modified after he was beaten at odds-on on his National Hunt debut, finishing second to Sharpical at Huntingdon
in December although other races at the Cheltenham Festival
were still being considered.
, but the experiment was abandoned after he behaved in an "unruly" manner before finishing unplaced at Ludlow
a month later.
On his return to flat racing, Moonax ran in the Group Three Ormonde Stakes
at Chester. He demonstrated a range of unappealing behaviours: he "slavered rabidly", refused to leave the paddock, walked backwards when being taken to the start and had to be blindfolded to enter the starting stalls. The fact that his groom was dressed in a body protector and padded arm-guards gave the impression that Moonax had become a thoroughly dangerous individual. In the race itself he put up a reasonable effort to finish third. He was then aimed at the Ascot Gold Cup. Moonax started 16/1 and never threatened the leaders, finishing ninth of the thirteen runners behind Celeric
in what proved to be his last race.
Timeform
assessed Moonax at a figure 121 in 1994, 122 in 1995 and 120 in 1996. They rated him the joint-best European stayer of 1995, but also awarded him their § or "squiggle" symbol to indicate that he could not be relied upon to produce his best form.
, Ireland
, where he was mainly used as a sire of National Hunt horses. He sired few horses of consequence, his best winners being the successful handicapper King Killone and the Grade I placed Abbeybraney. At the time of his death in May 2004 he was standing at a fee of €1,000.
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 sire. In 1994 Moonax became the first horse to win both the Classic 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...
and the Prix Royal-Oak
Prix Royal-Oak
The Prix Royal-Oak 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 3,100 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late October.-History:The event was established in 1861, and it was initially...
and was named European Champion Stayer. He remains the only three year old to have been honoured in this way. He stayed in training until the age of six, winning only two more races, but finishing second in four 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...
races. In his later career he acquired a reputation for unpredictable and sometimes dangerous behaviour and was described as "the world's naughtiest horse". He was most unusual as a Classic winner who was raced over hurdles. He died in 2004 at the age of thirteen.
Background
Moonax, a chestnut horse with a 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...
who stood 16.2 hands
Hand (unit)
The hand is a non-SI unit of measurement of length, now used only for the measurement of the height of horses in some English-speaking countries, including Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA. With origins in ancient Egypt, it was originally based on the breadth of a human hand...
high, was bred in Ireland by the Liscannor Stud. His sire, Caerleon, won the Prix du Jockey Club
Prix du Jockey Club
The Prix du Jockey Club, sometimes referred to as the French Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
and the Benson & Hedges Gold Cup
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....
in 1983 and went on to become an “excellent” stallion, siring the winners of more than 700 races including Generous
Generous (horse)
Generous is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who in 1991 won both Epsom and Irish Derbys. Sired by Caerleon, his grandsire was Nijinsky...
, Marienbard
Marienbard
Marienbard was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse bred by Saif Ali and raced by Godolphin Racing. Out of the mare Marienbad, he was sired by the French Champion Three-Year-Old Colt, Caerleon, a son of the 1971 British Triple Crown champion, Nijinsky....
and Warrsan
Warrsan
Warrsan was a Thoroughbred racehorse foaled in Ireland who competed in Europe and Asia. Owned and bred by Saeed Manana of the United Arab Emirates, he was sired by Caerleon, a son of the great Nijinsky, and out of the mare, Lucayan Princess.Conditioned by veteran trainer Clive Brittain, throughout...
. His dam, Moonsilk, never won a race, but came from a good family, being a half sister of the 1975 1000 Guineas winner, Nocturnal Spree.
Moonax was sent by the Limerick
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
-based Newborough Stud as a yearling to the Goffs sales in October 1992, where he was bought for IR£
Irish pound
The Irish pound was the currency of Ireland until 2002. Its ISO 4217 code was IEP, and the usual notation was the prefix £...
37,000 by the Curragh Bloodstock Agency He entered the ownership of Sheikh Mohammed
Mohammed 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:...
and was sent into training with Barry Hills
Barry Hills
Barry Hills is a British thoroughbred horse trainer. He lives in Lambourn, England.-Biography:Barry Hills had three sons in his first marriage: John, Michael, and Richard. John is a horse trainer, and both Michael and Richard are jockeys. After his divorce, he married Penny Hills, and had two more...
at Lambourn
Lambourn
Lambourn is a large village and civil parish in the northwestern part of the ceremonial county of Berkshire in England. Its metropolitan district has a population of 4,017, and is most noted for its associations with British National Hunt racehorse training....
.
1993: two-year-old season
Moonax's career began in an unusual and unfortunate manner. He was sent off the 6/1 third favourite for a maiden race at 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 :...
in November 1993. After running prominently for the first two furlong
Furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
s he was badly hampered, stumbled and unseated his rider Richard Quinn.
Spring
Moonax began his three-year-old season by recording his first win in a maiden race at Doncaster in March, taking the lead three furlongs out and running on strongly to win by three lengths. A month later he was sent to Catterick and started 11/8 in a minor stakes race. He led from the start and after being briefly challenged in the straight he pulled clear to record a decisive four length win.In May, Moonax 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...
class for the Chester Vase
Chester Vase
The Chester Vase is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run at Chester over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 66 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May....
, a recognised trial for 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...
. Moonax raced prominently and stayed on well, but had no chance with the impressive winner Broadway Flyer and finished second, beaten five lengths. Plans to run Moonax in the Derby Italiano
Derby Italiano
The Derby Italiano is a Group 2 flat horse race in Italy open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Capannelle over a distance of 2,200 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May....
had to be abandoned when the colt was injured while being loaded onto the plane to Italy.
Summer
The Chester form was let down when Broadway Flyer finished well down the field in the Derby and Moonax was a 14/1 outsider when he was sent to Royal Ascot for the King Edward VII StakesKing Edward VII Stakes
The King Edward VII Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
. Moonax raced in second before taking the lead in the straight, but faded in the closing stages to finish fifth. His next two races did little to dispel the notion that Moonax was some way below top class. In July he made no show when unplaced in the Deutsches Derby
Deutsches 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....
and when dropped down in class for a minor race 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...
in August he could finish only third after leading briefly in the straight.
Autumn
Moonax was not considered a serious contender for the St Leger over one and three quarter miles at Doncaster in September, and started the 40/1 outsider of the eight runners. Barry Hills had considered running him instead in a 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...
race at the same meeting before deciding that "there are times when you just have to have a go." Ridden for the first time by veteran jockey 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:...
he was held up in last place as the pace was set by Broadway Flyer. This was part of a tactical plan by Hills, who felt that the early pace would be very strong, and that Moonax's best opportunity would be to wait for the others to tire before making his challenge. In the straight Moonax began to make steady progress, moving into a clear second place two furlongs out. Moonax caught Broadway Flyer inside the final furlong and stayed on "gamely" to win by one and a half lengths. Moonax became the longest priced winner of the race since 1921. The runner up was trained by John Hills and ridden by Michael Hills, both sons of Moonax's trainer Barry
Barry Hills
Barry Hills is a British thoroughbred horse trainer. He lives in Lambourn, England.-Biography:Barry Hills had three sons in his first marriage: John, Michael, and Richard. John is a horse trainer, and both Michael and Richard are jockeys. After his divorce, he married Penny Hills, and had two more...
. Barry Hills was reported to be "close to tears" after the race and commented "I am delighted to win. The only disappointment is to have beaten my sons".
It was intended that Moonax would run 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 he was withdrawn from the race to make room in the field for another of Sheikh Mohammed's colts, Richard of York. On his final start of the season therefore, Moonax was moved up further in distance and took on older horses in the Prix Royal-Oak over 3100m at Longchamp in October. Eddery sent the colt to the front 1200m from the finish and maintained the lead into the straight. 300m from the finish he was headed by the gelding Always Earnest but "responded superbly" to regain the lead in the "last strides" to win by a short neck. He was the first, and is still the only St Leger winner to win the French race.
Plans for Moonax to join Sheikh Mohammeds's Godolphin team were modified, and he stayed under Hills' care for the rest of his career. He did, however, spend the winter of 1994–5 in with the Godolphin horses in Dubai, and wonn his first race of 1995 in the Godolphin colours.
1995: four-year-old season
Moonax began 1995 with a run in the Yorkshire CupYorkshire Cup
Yorkshire Cup may refer to:*Yorkshire Cup , a rugby union competition for Yorkshire clubs*Yorkshire Cup , a horse race held at York Racecourse*Rugby league county cups, a rugby league competition for Yorkshire clubs...
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...
in which he carried five pounds more than his six rivals. He looked "magnificent" before the race and started 11/4 favourite. Moonax tracked the leaders before taking the lead in the straight and ran on strongly to win his third successive race, this time by one and a quarter lengths. Greg Wood 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...
, praised the colt's "authority", "strength" and "enthusiasm" and predicted that he would be hard to beat in the year's top staying events.
The rest of the season saw Moonax running well, but failing to win as he finished second in three Group One races. The first of these was the Gold Cup
Ascot Gold Cup
The Gold Cup 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 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
at Royal Ascot in June. He started 13/8 favourite, but although he stayed on in the straight he could never reach the lead and was beaten five lengths by Double Trigger
Double Trigger
Double Trigger is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. He was bred in Ireland, but trained in the United Kingdom throughout his racing career, which lsted from 1993 to 1998...
. Moonax was off the course for three months before running in 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....
at 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 :...
. He raced prominently, and had every chance in the straight but was beaten a head by Strategic Choice. He then attempted to win a second French Group One in the Prix du Cadran
Prix du Cadran
The Prix du Cadran is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 4,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early October....
at Longchamp and as in the previous year's Prix Royal-Oak he disputed the finish with Always Earnest. On this occasion however, it was the French-trained gelding who prevailed by a short head. The race also helped to give Moonax a reputation for unpredictable behaviour: he turned his head and attempted to bite Always Earnest in the closing stages.
1996: five-year-old season
Moonax began 1996 by finishing third when starting 7/4 favourite for the John Porter StakesJohn Porter Stakes
The John Porter Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Newbury over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 5 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in April....
at Newbury in April. He was then off the course for five months before returning for an Autumn campaign. He reappeared in a minor stakes race at Haydock in late September and recorded his first win for well over a year when defeating the Gran Premio del Jockey Club
Gran Premio del Jockey Club
The Gran Premio del Jockey Club is a Group 1 flat horse race in Italy which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at San Siro, Milan, over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in October.Past winners of the event include Tenerani and...
winner Court of Honour by a length.
Before the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp in October Moonax behaved poorly, bucking violently and almost unseating his 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...
. In the race he tracked the leaders before challenging them in the straight. 200m from the finish he lost his chance of winning when he swerved to the left without warning and was beaten a length by Nononito
Nononito
Nononito was a French champion Thoroughbred race horse and sire. A specialist stayer, he ran twenty-two times on the flat and thirteen times over hurdles in a career which lasted from 1994 until 1998. Although he won only three of his flat races, he was noted for his consistency and ran...
. The explanation offered was that he was attempting to run for the exit leading to the stables. A second attempt at the Prix Royal-Oak ended in disappointment: he led for most of the race and defeated both Nononito and Always Earnest but was caught in the closing stages and beaten half a length by the mare Red Roses Story. The slow pace of the race and the resulting sprint finish were given as reasons for his defeat.
Instead of ending the horse's season, his connections decided to try Moonax over hurdles, with the intention of running him in the Champion Hurdle
Champion Hurdle
The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. As part of a sponsorship agreement with the online sportsbook StanJames.com, the race is now known as the Stan James Champion Hurdle...
in March. Those plans were modified after he was beaten at odds-on on his National Hunt debut, finishing second to Sharpical at Huntingdon
Huntingdon Racecourse
Huntingdon Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in The Stukeleys near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England.It is also the venue for the annual Mascot Grand National, a race between the mascots of various football and other sports teams....
in December although other races at the Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival is one of the most prestigious meetings in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, and has race prize money second only to the Grand National...
were still being considered.
1997: six-year-old season
Moonax's hurdling career continued with a third place behind Sanmartino at LeicesterLeicester Racecourse
Leicester Racecourse is a horse-racing course in Oadby, Leicestershire, England.The course is oval shaped and nearly 2 miles in extent. It was opened ante 1773....
, but the experiment was abandoned after he behaved in an "unruly" manner before finishing unplaced at Ludlow
Ludlow Racecourse
Ludlow Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located near Ludlow, Shropshire, England.The B4365 crosses the racecourse at three points of the tracks and traffic is stopped when the course is in use....
a month later.
On his return to flat racing, Moonax ran in the Group Three Ormonde Stakes
Ormonde Stakes
The Ormonde Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Chester over a distance of 1 mile, 5 furlongs and 89 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May....
at Chester. He demonstrated a range of unappealing behaviours: he "slavered rabidly", refused to leave the paddock, walked backwards when being taken to the start and had to be blindfolded to enter the starting stalls. The fact that his groom was dressed in a body protector and padded arm-guards gave the impression that Moonax had become a thoroughly dangerous individual. In the race itself he put up a reasonable effort to finish third. He was then aimed at the Ascot Gold Cup. Moonax started 16/1 and never threatened the leaders, finishing ninth of the thirteen runners behind Celeric
Celeric
Celeric is a retired, British Thoroughbred racehorse. He improved from running in minor handicaps to Group One level, and recorded his most important win in the 1997 Ascot Gold Cup. In the same year he was named European Champion Stayer at the Cartier Racing Awards. He won thirteen of his forty-two...
in what proved to be his last race.
Assessment
At the 1994 Cartier Racing Awards Moonax was named European Champion Stayer.Timeform
Timeform
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...
assessed Moonax at a figure 121 in 1994, 122 in 1995 and 120 in 1996. They rated him the joint-best European stayer of 1995, but also awarded him their § or "squiggle" symbol to indicate that he could not be relied upon to produce his best form.
Stud career
Moonax was stood at the Clongeel Stud, near Mallow, County CorkMallow, County Cork
Mallow is the "Crossroads of Munster" and the administrative capital of north County Cork, in Ireland. The Northern Divisional Offices of Cork County Council are located in the town....
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, where he was mainly used as a sire of National Hunt horses. He sired few horses of consequence, his best winners being the successful handicapper King Killone and the Grade I placed Abbeybraney. At the time of his death in May 2004 he was standing at a fee of €1,000.