One Cool Cat
Encyclopedia
One Cool Cat, foaled on March 26, 2001 in Kentucky
, is a Thoroughbred
racehorse who competed in England
and Ireland
. Bred by Winstar Farm
, he was purchased by Demi O'Byrne on behalf of Sue Magnier and Michael Tabor
for $3.1-million at the 2002 Keeneland July yearling sale
. Sired by Storm Cat
and out of the Mr. Prospector
mare, Tacha, he was trained at Ballydoyle
by Aidan O'Brien
.
One Cool Cat lost on his debut start, finishing 4th in a maiden race at the Curragh
. He was soon on the winning trail with a victory in a maiden race at York Racecourse
six weeks later. The Anglesey Stakes
was his next race, and was the second in a string of four consecutive wins, following up in the Phoenix Stakes
and National Stakes
. Aidan O'Brien had been so impressed with his work at home and also on the racetrack, that he joked once, "I think I'll move him in beside me and knock a door in the bedroom to put him up for the winter!"
For his performance in the 2003 racing season One Cool Cat earned the Cartier Racing Award
as Two-Year-Old European Champion Colt.
on-board. However, he never struck a blow and finished 13th of 14, over 51 lengths behind the winner Haafhd
. It was found afterwards that he had an irregular heartbeat, the likely reason for his poor showing. He was sent out in a Group 3 at the Curragh
ten weeks later, odds-on favourite, but again he never threatened over a mile, and finished 5th, 6 lengths behind the winner.
A return to 6 furlongs was a victorious one, beating The Kiddykid by a length in the Group 3 Phoenix Sprint Stakes
, again at the Curragh, at the start of August. Just eleven days later, he started as favourite for the Group 1
Nunthorpe Stakes
at York Racecourse
, finishing 3rd, although may well have won with a better run. The Group 1
Haydock Sprint Cup
was next on the agenda 2 weeks later, but the 3rd run in such quick succession was seemingly too much for him, and finished 6th, 3 lengths behind the winner Tante Rose.
in County Tipperary
, Ireland
for a fee of €15,000. His first foals were in 2006.
It was reported in the Racing Post in November 2009 that One Cool Cat had been sold to stand at stud in South Korea.
Kentucky
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...
, is a Thoroughbred
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 who competed in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and 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...
. Bred by Winstar Farm
WinStar Farm
WinStar Farm is an American Thoroughbred horse breeding and racing farm near Versailles, Kentucky. Formerly known as Prestonwood Farm, it was owned by Houston, Texas oilmen Jack, Art, and J. R...
, he was purchased by Demi O'Byrne on behalf of Sue Magnier and Michael Tabor
Michael Tabor
Michael B. Tabor is a businessman and owner of Thoroughbred racehorses.-Thoroughbred racing career:...
for $3.1-million at the 2002 Keeneland July yearling sale
Keeneland Sales
The Keeneland Sales is an American Thoroughbred auction house in Lexington, Kentucky founded in 1935 as a nonprofit racing/auction entity on 147 acres of farmland west of Lexington, which had been owned by Jack O. Keene...
. Sired by Storm Cat
Storm Cat
Storm Cat was an American Thoroughbred stallion whose breeding fee during the peak of his stud career was $500,000, the highest in the world. As such, he was one of the few horses with a 24-hour armed guard....
and out of the Mr. Prospector
Mr. Prospector
Mr. Prospector was a thoroughbred racehorse foaled in Kentucky, whose descendants have been dominant in the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. He won half of his 14 career races.-Background:...
mare, Tacha, he was trained at 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...
by Aidan O'Brien
Aidan O'Brien
Aidan Patrick O'Brien is an Irish horse racing trainer. Since 1996, he has been the private trainer at Ballydoyle Stables near Cashel in County Tipperary for John Magnier and his Coolmore Stud associates....
.
One Cool Cat lost on his debut start, finishing 4th in a maiden race 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 was soon on the winning trail with a victory in a maiden race at York Racecourse
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...
six weeks later. The Anglesey Stakes
Anglesey Stakes
The Anglesey Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Ireland open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 6 furlongs and 63 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July....
was his next race, and was the second in a string of four consecutive wins, following up in the Phoenix Stakes
Phoenix Stakes
The Phoenix Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July or August.-History:...
and National Stakes
National Stakes
The National Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September....
. Aidan O'Brien had been so impressed with his work at home and also on the racetrack, that he joked once, "I think I'll move him in beside me and knock a door in the bedroom to put him up for the winter!"
For his performance in the 2003 racing season One Cool Cat earned the Cartier Racing Award
Cartier Racing Award
The Cartier Racing Awards are awards in European horse racing, founded in 1991, and sponsored by Cartier jewelers. The award winners are decided by points earned in group races plus the votes cast by British racing journalists and readers of the Racing Post and Daily Telegraph newspapers.Eight...
as Two-Year-Old European Champion Colt.
Three-Year-Old Career
One Cool Cat was sent off favourite for the 2,000 Guineas with new stable jockey Jamie SpencerJamie Spencer
Jamie Spencer is an Irish flat racing jockey currently riding in the UK. He has been champion jockey in both Ireland and Britain and has won four classics, two in each country. Spencer is widely regarded as one of the best, and most naturally talented, UK-based jockeys - despite not having a...
on-board. However, he never struck a blow and finished 13th of 14, over 51 lengths behind the winner Haafhd
Haafhd
Haafhd is a retired British Thoroughbred racehorse and active stallion, best known for winning the 2000 Guineas and Champion Stakes in 2004.-Background:...
. It was found afterwards that he had an irregular heartbeat, the likely reason for his poor showing. He was sent out in a Group 3 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 :...
ten weeks later, odds-on favourite, but again he never threatened over a mile, and finished 5th, 6 lengths behind the winner.
A return to 6 furlongs was a victorious one, beating The Kiddykid by a length in the Group 3 Phoenix Sprint Stakes
Phoenix Sprint Stakes
The Phoenix Sprint Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
, again at the Curragh, at the start of August. Just eleven days later, he started as favourite for the Group 1
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
Nunthorpe Stakes
Nunthorpe Stakes
The Nunthorpe Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged two years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 5 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
at York Racecourse
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...
, finishing 3rd, although may well have won with a better run. The Group 1
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...
Haydock Sprint Cup
Haydock Sprint Cup
The Sprint Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Haydock Park over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early September....
was next on the agenda 2 weeks later, but the 3rd run in such quick succession was seemingly too much for him, and finished 6th, 3 lengths behind the winner Tante Rose.
Current
He stands at Coolmore StudCoolmore Stud
Coolmore Stud, in Fethard, South Tipperary in Ireland, is the world's largest breeding operation of thoroughbred racehorses. It was established in 1975....
in County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
, 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...
for a fee of €15,000. His first foals were in 2006.
It was reported in the Racing Post in November 2009 that One Cool Cat had been sold to stand at stud in South Korea.