Rip Van Winkle (horse)
Encyclopedia
Rip Van Winkle is an Irish Thoroughbred
racehorse sired by the great dual Derby winner Gallieo. Like his sire Rip Van Winkle was also trained by Aidan O'Brien.
, won by the 2008 Derby winner New Approach
the previous year. After that effort Rip Van Winkle started as the 6/4 favourite to win the Dewhurst on his final start as a two year old but found himself stuck behind a wall of horses in a bunch finish in which the first four home were covered by only half a length. Denied a clear run he finished seventh, just two lengths behind Intense Focus. It was a disappointing result for his connections but it was a un full of promise and there was every reason to look forward to his contending in the classics the following year.
had chosen him over Mastercraftsman. This was to be Rip Van Winkle's first clash with the eventual winner Sea the Stars who would go on to dominate the flat season in record breaking style. Rip Van Winkle finished a good fourth staying on in the style of a horse ready for the 1 mile 4 furlong test of the Derby.
On Derby day he was again prominent in the betting but, despite Johnny Murtagh sticking with him and claiming he was the best horse he had ever sat upon, it was his stablemate Fame and Glory who went off marginal favourite just ahead of Sea the Stars. Rip Van Winkle finished a fast fininshing fourth after taking too long to find top gear in the staight from off the pace and the entire Ballydoyle team of six horses were again well beaten by a cruising Sea The Stars
.
In his next race at Sandown, back at a mile and 2, Sea the Stars was bidding to become the first horse to win the Guineas, Derby, Eclipse Stakes
treble since Nashwan
. Rip Van Winkle tracked him throughout the race and the two went clear two furlongs out. He looked like overtaking Sea the Stars, a half brother to Rip Van Winkle's sire, but as he drew level his nemesis excellerated again and went on to win by half a length.
Rip Van Winkle deserved to win a group one race and finally did so on his next outing with a storming success dropped back to a mile in the Sussex Stakes
where his stamina won through after he set a furious pace that was even too strong for his pacemaker. Paco Boy and the record breaking 1000 Guineas winner Ghanaati were well behind him at the finish. He followed up with another Group One winning the QEII Stakes, again at a mile and again from the front, his stamina winning the day from Guineas second Delegator who looked like closing but found no extra in the final 100 yards.
His 2009 season concluded with a disappointing run in the Breeders' Cup Classic
behind Zenyatta
after he appeared not to handle the track.
and the Paco Boy in the Queen Anne Stakes
at Royal Ascot. He then tried for a repeat performance in the Sussex Stakes where he again tried to make his stamina tell but was beaten into second late on by the three year old star Canford Cliffs
.
Still looking like he'd improve for that run Rip then went back up to a mile and 2 which had seen arguably his best performance when behind Sea the Stars in 2009's Eclipse Stakes, when tackling a high class field in Yorks International Stakes. Despite his lack of a win that season he went off as favourite. He travelled strongly throughout the race, but when the Khallid Abdullah pair Twice Over
and Byword kicked for home three furlongs out, he seemed to take an age to accelerate. He gained and gained then finally hit top gear a furlong out as he was guided out to the faster ground of the stands side rail. Still it seemed like he'd left it too late but he flew in the final yards to get up on the line by half a length going away and even seemed in the end to win a bit snugly. It was Rip Van Winkle's third Group One victory.
Soft ground seemed to go against him on his next two starts, the Irish Champion Stakes
in which he was comprehensively beaten by a strong front-running ride by half-brother and stable mate Cape Blanco.Two weeks later he was back over a mile in the QEII stakes at Ascot where he was nipped by a nose on the line by a three year old after an aggressive ride where he committed early trying to make his stamina on the soft ground tell. Poets Voice, the son of soft ground specialist Dubawi
and winner of the Celebration Stakes, beat him in the last stride, perfectly ridden by an in form Frankie Dettori
who won four out of his five races on the day at Ascot.
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 sired by the great dual Derby winner Gallieo. Like his sire Rip Van Winkle was also trained by Aidan O'Brien.
2008: two-year-old season
Winning his maiden at the first time of asking Rip Van Winkle then went on to win the Group 3 Tyros StakesTyros Stakes
The Tyros Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Ireland open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July....
, won by the 2008 Derby winner New Approach
New Approach
New Approach is a retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and active stallion. He won the 2008 Epsom Derby, and was rated the best racehorse in the world in the 2008 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings....
the previous year. After that effort Rip Van Winkle started as the 6/4 favourite to win the Dewhurst on his final start as a two year old but found himself stuck behind a wall of horses in a bunch finish in which the first four home were covered by only half a length. Denied a clear run he finished seventh, just two lengths behind Intense Focus. It was a disappointing result for his connections but it was a un full of promise and there was every reason to look forward to his contending in the classics the following year.
2009: three-year-old season
Despite the Dewhurst defeat Rip Van Winkle started second favourite for the following season's 2000 Guineas largely due to his being still very unexposed and apparently the stable's first string as Johnny MurtaghJohnny Murtagh
Johnny Murtagh is a Irish flat racing jockey from Bohermeen, Navan, County Meath.He excels on the big stage, having won many Group 1 races around the world...
had chosen him over Mastercraftsman. This was to be Rip Van Winkle's first clash with the eventual winner Sea the Stars who would go on to dominate the flat season in record breaking style. Rip Van Winkle finished a good fourth staying on in the style of a horse ready for the 1 mile 4 furlong test of the Derby.
On Derby day he was again prominent in the betting but, despite Johnny Murtagh sticking with him and claiming he was the best horse he had ever sat upon, it was his stablemate Fame and Glory who went off marginal favourite just ahead of Sea the Stars. Rip Van Winkle finished a fast fininshing fourth after taking too long to find top gear in the staight from off the pace and the entire Ballydoyle team of six horses were again well beaten by a cruising Sea The Stars
Sea the Stars
Sea The Stars is a champion Irish Thoroughbred colt racehorse. Regarded by many as one of the greatest racehorses of all time, he is best known for winning the 2,000 Guineas, the Epsom Derby, the Eclipse Stakes, - the first colt to accomplish this treble since 1989 champion Nashwan - the...
.
In his next race at Sandown, back at a mile and 2, Sea the Stars was bidding to become the first horse to win the Guineas, Derby, 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...
treble since 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...
. Rip Van Winkle tracked him throughout the race and the two went clear two furlongs out. He looked like overtaking Sea the Stars, a half brother to Rip Van Winkle's sire, but as he drew level his nemesis excellerated again and went on to win by half a length.
Rip Van Winkle deserved to win a group one race and finally did so on his next outing with a storming success dropped back to a mile in 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:...
where his stamina won through after he set a furious pace that was even too strong for his pacemaker. Paco Boy and the record breaking 1000 Guineas winner Ghanaati were well behind him at the finish. He followed up with another Group One winning the QEII Stakes, again at a mile and again from the front, his stamina winning the day from Guineas second Delegator who looked like closing but found no extra in the final 100 yards.
His 2009 season concluded with a disappointing run 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 Zenyatta
Zenyatta
Zenyatta is a retired American champion Thoroughbred racehorse, winner of 19 consecutive races in a 20-race career and American record-holder for consecutive victories without defeat in unrestricted races....
after he appeared not to handle the track.
2010: four-year-old season
Rip Van Winkle's three year old season was constantly disrupted by injury and his four year old campaign was also set back due to niggling injury problems. His first start was disappointing and he badly needed the run finishing well behind GoldikovaGoldikova
Goldikova is a champion Thoroughbred racemare based in France, although she has raced in North America and England. She has won fourteen group one races, with nine victories over colts and geldings. This puts her above the great Miesque as the only European-trained horse to have won more than 10...
and the Paco Boy in the Queen Anne Stakes
Queen Anne Stakes
The Queen Anne 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 it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
at Royal Ascot. He then tried for a repeat performance in the Sussex Stakes where he again tried to make his stamina tell but was beaten into second late on by the three year old star Canford Cliffs
Canford Cliffs
Canford Cliffs is an affluent suburb of Poole in Dorset, England. The neighbourhood lies on the English Channel coast midway between Poole and Bournemouth...
.
Still looking like he'd improve for that run Rip then went back up to a mile and 2 which had seen arguably his best performance when behind Sea the Stars in 2009's Eclipse Stakes, when tackling a high class field in Yorks International Stakes. Despite his lack of a win that season he went off as favourite. He travelled strongly throughout the race, but when the Khallid Abdullah pair Twice Over
Twice Over
Twice Over is a thoroughbred racehorse trained by Henry Cecil and owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah of Juddmonte Farms. Twice Over was bred in Great Britain.-2008 Season:...
and Byword kicked for home three furlongs out, he seemed to take an age to accelerate. He gained and gained then finally hit top gear a furlong out as he was guided out to the faster ground of the stands side rail. Still it seemed like he'd left it too late but he flew in the final yards to get up on the line by half a length going away and even seemed in the end to win a bit snugly. It was Rip Van Winkle's third Group One victory.
Soft ground seemed to go against him on his next two starts, the Irish Champion Stakes
Irish Champion Stakes
The Irish Champion Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.-History:The event was established in 1976, and...
in which he was comprehensively beaten by a strong front-running ride by half-brother and stable mate Cape Blanco.Two weeks later he was back over a mile in the QEII stakes at Ascot where he was nipped by a nose on the line by a three year old after an aggressive ride where he committed early trying to make his stamina on the soft ground tell. Poets Voice, the son of soft ground specialist Dubawi
Dubawi
Dubawi is a thoroughbred racehorse sired by Dubai Millennium. He won five races in his race career....
and winner of the Celebration Stakes, beat him in the last stride, perfectly ridden by an in form 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...
who won four out of his five races on the day at Ascot.