Nayef (horse)
Encyclopedia
Nayef is a retired Thoroughbred
racehorse an active sire, bred in the United States
but trained in the United Kingdom
during his racing career which ran from 2000 to 2003. He is best known for winning a series of important races including four Group One
races: the Champion Stakes
the Dubai Sheema Classic
the International Stakes
and the Prince of Wales's Stakes
.
by his owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum
. He was sired by Gulch
, and was the last foal of the notable broodmare Height of Fashion, making him a half-brother to the Derby
winner Nashwan
and the multiple Group race
winner Unfuwain
.
He was trained throughout his career by Marcus Tregoning at Kingwood Stables in Lambourn
, and ridden in seventeen of his nineteen races by Richard Hills.
Haynes, Hanson and Clark Conditions Stakes
at Newbury
. He was nevertheless made 7-4 favourite on the basis of his reputation, and justified the odds when winning by a neck from Tamburlaine. The form of the race looked particularly strong when the runner-up went on to finish second in the Group One Racing Post Trophy
later in the season.
He followed up in the Autumn Stakes
at Ascot, taking the lead a furlong from the finish and pulling away to win by an "impressive" six lengths. Once again, the form of the race was boosted by later events, when the third placed Count Dubois won the Group One Gran Criterium
in Milan two weeks later.
His two-year-old career had followed a family pattern: Unfuwain had won the Haynes, Hanson and Clark Conditions Stakes
in 1987, while Nashwan won the Autumn Stakes a year later. .
He was certainly well-regarded and was made winter favourite for both the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby
, despite never having contested a Group
race. The official handicapper, Matthew Tester, awarded him "the highest rating a two-year-old has ever been given without running in Group company". One writer, albeit some time after the fact, noted that Nayef had been "hyped as the second coming of Pegasus
".
. and in the 2,000 Guineas he appeared to be outpaced after disputing the lead for most of the way and faded to finish eighth behind Golan
. A week before the Derby, Marcus Tregoning withdrew Nayef from the race, feeling that he was not mature enough for Epsom and saying that the colt had "grown an awful lot and I just feel his strength has gone for the time being".
On his return to the racecourse he finished third in the Group Three Gordon Stakes
at Goodwood prompting one columnist to write that "if there has been one disappointment this season, it has been Nayef".
From that point on however, his form improved steadily. He won the Rose of Lancaster Stakes
at Haydock by five lengths despite being eased down in the closing stages and then took the Select Stakes
"easily" by six. In September he won his third Group race in a row, "ploughing" through soft ground at Ascot in the Cumberland Lodge Stakes
. Jim McGrath
, writing in the Telegraph, was full of praise for the colt's improvement. "Nayef has been a revelation in the last few weeks, showing signs that he is starting to mature into the colt many hoped he would be."
In October, he was moved up to the highest level to run in the Group One Champion Stakes
at Newmarket. Nayef recorded his most important success so far, taking the lead inside the last furlong and beating Tobougg
by three quarters of a length in "courageous and decisive" style. Tregoning was keen to emphasise that he had always believed that the colt would eventually realise his potential saying, "I always knew we had the item."
to particicpate in the Dubai World Cup
. He was well supported for the race, being offered at odds of 11-2, but shortly before the race he was withdrawn from the race by Hamdan Al Maktoum, who preferred to rely on Sakhee
. Nayef was re-routed to the longer Dubai Sheema Classic
which he won easily by two lengths from a field that included runners from France, Germany, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Japan and the UAE.
For the second consecutive year, Nayef took time to produce his best form in Europe. In the Tattersalls Gold Cup
on soft ground at the Curragh, he was beaten as odds-on favourite by the Irish filly Rebelline and at Royal Ascot he finished fourth, seven lengths behind Grandera
in the Prince of Wales's Stakes
.
In the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot Nayef ran his best race since returning from Dubai. He was sent into the lead by Richard Hills in the straight, but despite staying on well under pressure, he was overtaken fifty yards from the finish and beaten a head by Golan. He improved further at York, where he reversed the form with Golan in the International Stakes
. The two colts were once again closely matched, but this time it was Nayef who prevailed by half a length, prompting his connections to talk confidently of travelling to Chicgo for the Breeders' Cup
.
As it transpired, Nayef was unable to compete in any of the major autumn races. Shortly before a scheduled attempt to win a second Champion Stakes, he contracted a respiratory infection which forced him to miss the rest of the season.
but this time he was allowed to take part. He started 11/8 favourite but, having his first run for seven months, and racing on dirt for the first time, he was unable to live up expectations, finishing third to Moon Ballad
.
Nayef returned to England to record his last important victory in the Prince of Wales's Stakes
. Taking the lead in the straight he pulled clear to claim a decisive two and a half length win, beating a field which included Rakti
, Falbrav
, Grandera
, Islington and Moon Ballad. After this win Marcus Tregoning described him as, "a super racehorse, everybody's dream of a racehorse".
Hopes of securing a £1,000,000 "Summer Triple Crown" bonus ended in his next race when he finished strongly, but was unable to overhaul Falbrav in the Eclipse Stakes
after Richard Hills had been unable to find space for a clear run in the early part of the straight. Despite this defeat he was made favourite for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes three weeks later but was unable to produce any serious challenge in finishing seventh to Alamshar
. It was the first time that he had finished out of the prize money since his run in the 2,000 Guineas well over two years previously.
In his last two starts, Nayef was unable to recapture his form. In the International Stakes, he finished three lengths further behind Falbrav than he had done in the Eclipse and in the Champion Stakes he faded in the closing stages to finish eighth of the twelve runners behing Rakti.
In the 2003 edition of the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings
Nayef was again rated at 125, making him the eleventh best horse in the world.
Nayef was given a peak Timeform
rating of 129.
His successful progeny include Tamayuz (Prix Jacques le Marois
), Lady Marian (Prix de l'Opera
), Spacious (Windsor Forest Stakes
) and Confront (Joel Stakes
).
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 an active sire, bred in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
but 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 his racing career which ran from 2000 to 2003. He is best known for winning a series of important races including 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: 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...
the Dubai Sheema Classic
Dubai Sheema Classic
The Dubai Sheema Classic is a Group 1 flat horse race in the United Arab Emirates open to thoroughbreds which are four-years-old or above. It is run over a distance of 2,400 metres on the turf track at Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, and it takes place annually during the Dubai World Cup Night in...
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....
and 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....
.
Background
Nayef is a large, powerfully-built bay horse, bred in KentuckyKentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
by his owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum
Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the Deputy Ruler of Dubai and the Minister of Finance and Industry of the United Arab Emirates . He is the second son of the late ruler, Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum ....
. He was sired by Gulch
Gulch (horse)
Gulch was an American thoroughbred Stallion racehorse. Owned and bred by Peter M. Brant, he was sired by the outstanding North American stud and graded stakes race winner Mr...
, and was the last foal of the notable broodmare Height of Fashion, making him a half-brother to 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 Nashwan
Nashwan
Nashwan was a thoroughbred racehorse bred and owned by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.The chestnut colt was sired by the 1977 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Blushing Groom out of Height of Fashion, a daughter of Bustino previously owned by Queen Elizabeth II. He was a thus half-brother to the Group...
and the multiple Group race
Conditions races
Conditions races are horse races where the weights carried by the runners are laid down by the conditions attached to the race. Weights are allocated according to; the sex of the runners, with female runners carrying less weight than males; the age of the runners, with younger horses receiving...
winner Unfuwain
Unfuwain
Unfuwain was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse bred and owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum. In a brief career of ten starts, lasting from 9187 to 1989, he won four Group races and was placed in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe...
.
He was trained throughout his career by Marcus Tregoning at Kingwood Stables in 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....
, and ridden in seventeen of his nineteen races by Richard Hills.
2000: two-year-old season
Unlike most racehorses, Nayef bypassed maiden races, making his debut instead against more experienced colts 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...
Haynes, Hanson and Clark Conditions Stakes
Haynes, Hanson and Clark Conditions Stakes
The Haynes, Hanson and Clark Conditions Stakes is a flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Newbury over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September....
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...
. He was nevertheless made 7-4 favourite on the basis of his reputation, and justified the odds when winning by a neck from Tamburlaine. The form of the race looked particularly strong when the runner-up went on to finish second in the Group One Racing Post Trophy
Racing Post Trophy
The Racing Post Trophy is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late October....
later in the season.
He followed up in the 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....
at Ascot, taking the lead a furlong from the finish and pulling away to win by an "impressive" six lengths. Once again, the form of the race was boosted by later events, when the third placed Count Dubois won the Group One Gran Criterium
Gran Criterium
The Gran Criterium is a Group 1 flat horse race in Italy which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at San Siro, Milan, over a distance of 1,600 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in October....
in Milan two weeks later.
His two-year-old career had followed a family pattern: Unfuwain had won the Haynes, Hanson and Clark Conditions Stakes
Haynes, Hanson and Clark Conditions Stakes
The Haynes, Hanson and Clark Conditions Stakes is a flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Newbury over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September....
in 1987, while Nashwan won the Autumn Stakes a year later. .
He was certainly well-regarded and was made winter favourite for both the 2,000 Guineas and 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...
, despite never having contested a Group
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...
race. The official handicapper, Matthew Tester, awarded him "the highest rating a two-year-old has ever been given without running in Group company". One writer, albeit some time after the fact, noted that Nayef had been "hyped as the second coming of Pegasus
Pegasus
Pegasus is one of the best known fantastical as well as mythological creatures in Greek mythology. He is a winged divine horse, usually white in color. He was sired by Poseidon, in his role as horse-god, and foaled by the Gorgon Medusa. He was the brother of Chrysaor, born at a single birthing...
".
2001: three-year-old season
Nayef failed to realise his promise in the early part of 2001. He began disappointingly, with an odds-on defeat to Tobougg on soft ground in the Craven StakesCraven Stakes
The Craven Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in mid April.The event serves as a trial for the first...
. and in the 2,000 Guineas he appeared to be outpaced after disputing the lead for most of the way and faded to finish eighth behind Golan
Golan (horse)
Golan is a retired thoroughbred racehorse and active sire who was bred in Ireland but trained in the United Kingdom throughout his racing career, which lasted from 2000 to 2002. He won the 2,000 Guineas in 2001 and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes in 2002...
. A week before the Derby, Marcus Tregoning withdrew Nayef from the race, feeling that he was not mature enough for Epsom and saying that the colt had "grown an awful lot and I just feel his strength has gone for the time being".
On his return to the racecourse he finished third in the Group Three Gordon Stakes
Gordon Stakes
The Gordon Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August....
at Goodwood prompting one columnist to write that "if there has been one disappointment this season, it has been Nayef".
From that point on however, his form improved steadily. He won the Rose of Lancaster Stakes
Rose of Lancaster Stakes
The Rose of Lancaster Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Haydock Park over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 95 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early August.-History:The event was established...
at Haydock by five lengths despite being eased down in the closing stages and then took the Select Stakes
Select Stakes
The Select Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile, 1 furlong and 192 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.The event was established in 1965, and it was...
"easily" by six. In September he won his third Group race in a row, "ploughing" through soft ground at Ascot in the Cumberland Lodge Stakes
Cumberland Lodge Stakes
The Cumberland Lodge Stakes is a Group 3 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 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September.The event is named after Cumberland Lodge,...
. Jim McGrath
Jim McGrath (Australian commentator)
Jim Aloysius McGrath is the BBC's senior horse racing commentator. He was previously deputy race commentator, and sometimes a paddock commentator.-Career:...
, writing in the Telegraph, was full of praise for the colt's improvement. "Nayef has been a revelation in the last few weeks, showing signs that he is starting to mature into the colt many hoped he would be."
In October, he was moved up to the highest level to run in the Group One 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...
at Newmarket. Nayef recorded his most important success so far, taking the lead inside the last furlong and beating Tobougg
Tobougg
Tobougg is a retired thoroughbred racehorse and active sire, who was bred in Ireland, but trained in England and Dubai during a racing career which lasted from 2000 to 2002. He was named European Champion Two-Year-Old Colt for 2000 at the Cartier Racing Awards...
by three quarters of a length in "courageous and decisive" style. Tregoning was keen to emphasise that he had always believed that the colt would eventually realise his potential saying, "I always knew we had the item."
2002: four-year-old season
Nayef began 2002 by being taken to the UAEUnited Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
to particicpate in the Dubai World Cup
Dubai World Cup
The Dubai World Cup is a Thoroughbred horse race held annually since 1996 and from 2010 at the Meydan Racecourse in the city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates...
. He was well supported for the race, being offered at odds of 11-2, but shortly before the race he was withdrawn from the race by Hamdan Al Maktoum, who preferred to rely on Sakhee
Sakhee
Sakhee is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred by the racing interests of Dubai's Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum, his sire Bahri was almost exclusively a miler who won two Group One races at that distance...
. Nayef was re-routed to the longer Dubai Sheema Classic
Dubai Sheema Classic
The Dubai Sheema Classic is a Group 1 flat horse race in the United Arab Emirates open to thoroughbreds which are four-years-old or above. It is run over a distance of 2,400 metres on the turf track at Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, and it takes place annually during the Dubai World Cup Night in...
which he won easily by two lengths from a field that included runners from France, Germany, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Japan and the UAE.
For the second consecutive year, Nayef took time to produce his best form in Europe. In 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....
on soft ground at the Curragh, he was beaten as odds-on favourite by the Irish filly Rebelline and at Royal Ascot he finished fourth, seven lengths behind Grandera
Grandera
Grandera is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire who was bred in Ireland and trained in the United Kingdom and Dubai during a racing career which lasted from 2000 to 2003...
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....
.
In the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot Nayef ran his best race since returning from Dubai. He was sent into the lead by Richard Hills in the straight, but despite staying on well under pressure, he was overtaken fifty yards from the finish and beaten a head by Golan. He improved further at York, where he reversed the form with Golan in 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....
. The two colts were once again closely matched, but this time it was Nayef who prevailed by half a length, prompting his connections to talk confidently of travelling to Chicgo for the Breeders' Cup
Breeders' Cup
The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Thoroughbred horse races, most but not all Grade I, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, it expanded to two days. The location...
.
As it transpired, Nayef was unable to compete in any of the major autumn races. Shortly before a scheduled attempt to win a second Champion Stakes, he contracted a respiratory infection which forced him to miss the rest of the season.
2003: five-year-old season
He began his five-year-old career by once again travelling to Dubai as a leading hope for the Dubai World CupDubai World Cup
The Dubai World Cup is a Thoroughbred horse race held annually since 1996 and from 2010 at the Meydan Racecourse in the city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates...
but this time he was allowed to take part. He started 11/8 favourite but, having his first run for seven months, and racing on dirt for the first time, he was unable to live up expectations, finishing third to Moon Ballad
Moon Ballad
Moon Ballad is a Thoroughbred racehorse who competed internationally.-Background:He was bred by Prince Fahd Salman's Newgate Stud Farm which operated from a base at the now closed Sandley Stud in Gillingham, Dorset in England....
.
Nayef returned to England to record his last important victory 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....
. Taking the lead in the straight he pulled clear to claim a decisive two and a half length win, beating a field which included Rakti
Rakti
Rakti was a British Thoroughbred racehorse, who won six Group One races in Italy and the United Kingdom in a career which lasted from 2001 to 2005.-Background:...
, Falbrav
Falbrav
Falbrav is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire, bred in Ireland but trained in Italy and the United Kingdom during his racing career which ran from 2000 to 2004...
, Grandera
Grandera
Grandera is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire who was bred in Ireland and trained in the United Kingdom and Dubai during a racing career which lasted from 2000 to 2003...
, Islington and Moon Ballad. After this win Marcus Tregoning described him as, "a super racehorse, everybody's dream of a racehorse".
Hopes of securing a £1,000,000 "Summer Triple Crown" bonus ended in his next race when he finished strongly, but was unable to overhaul Falbrav in the Eclipse Stakes
Eclipse Stakes
The Eclipse Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. 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 early July.-History:The event is named after Eclipse, a...
after Richard Hills had been unable to find space for a clear run in the early part of the straight. Despite this defeat he was made favourite for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes three weeks later but was unable to produce any serious challenge in finishing seventh to Alamshar
Alamshar
Alamshar is a retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. He won five of his nine races in a career which lasted from September 2002 to September 2003...
. It was the first time that he had finished out of the prize money since his run in the 2,000 Guineas well over two years previously.
In his last two starts, Nayef was unable to recapture his form. In the International Stakes, he finished three lengths further behind Falbrav than he had done in the Eclipse and in the Champion Stakes he faded in the closing stages to finish eighth of the twelve runners behing Rakti.
Assessment
In the 2000 International Classification Nayef was rated 119, making him the fourth highest rated two-year-old colt in Europe. A year later he was rated 121, making him the sixth highest rated three-year-old colt in Europe. In 2002 Nayef was rated 125, making him the eighth highest rated horse in the Classification.In the 2003 edition of the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings
World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings
The World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings are compiled by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities , an organization established in 2003 with headquarters in Paris, France made up of members from around the world....
Nayef was again rated at 125, making him the eleventh best horse in the world.
Nayef was given a peak 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...
rating of 129.
Stud career
Nayef was retired from racing to stand as a stallion at his owner's Nunnery Stud.His successful progeny include Tamayuz (Prix Jacques le Marois
Prix Jacques le Marois
The Prix Jacques Le Marois is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbred colts and fillies aged three years or older. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 1,600 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
), Lady Marian (Prix de l'Opera
Prix de l'Opéra
The Prix de l'Opéra is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early October.The event was established in 1974, and it was...
), Spacious (Windsor Forest Stakes
Windsor Forest Stakes
The Windsor Forest Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
) and Confront (Joel Stakes
Joel Stakes
The Joel Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.The event was formerly known...
).