Saintly
Encyclopedia
Saintly was an Australian Thoroughbred
racehorse who was named Australia's champion racehorse
in 1997. A giant chestnut gelding by Sky Chase out of All Grace (by Sir Tristram), he was bred by his trainer, Bart Cummings
, who owned him in partnership with a Malaysian businessman, Dato Tan Chin Nam
.
Saintly gained the moniker 'The horse from heaven' due to his name and his partnership with jockey Darren Beadman, who at the time was a proclaimed born-again Christian. Saintly broke his maiden as a two-year-old, on 19 April 1995, and returned in the latter part of the spring, at three, where he won three races, including the Listed Carbine Club Stakes at Flemington. He opened the new year by defeating the well-performed Juggler in the Expressway Stakes
, and won the Australian Cup
two starts later. He was then placed behind Octagonal in the Rosehill Guineas
, the Mercedes Classic, and the Australian Derby, and finished in front of Nothin' Leica Dane and Filante, in what was considered a vintage crop of three-year-olds.
At four, Saintly was runner-up to Filante in the Warwick
and the Chelmsford Stakes
, won the Hill Stakes
at his third run back, and was surprisingly defeated by Adventurous, Hula Flight, and Nothin' Leica Dane in the Craven Plate and The Metropolitan. In Melbourne, however, he found his best form. He charged home to beat Filante in the Cox Plate
and backed up 10 days later for an easy win in the Melbourne Cup
. He was just the fourth horse to complete the double in the same year, following Nightmarch
(1929), Phar Lap
(1930), and Rising Fast (1954), and preceding Makybe Diva
(2005).
After missing the Japan Cup
through illness, Saintly returned in the Orr Stakes
, and came from well back on the home turn to defeat Cut Up Rough. Bart Cummings declared Saintly hadn't yet reached his peak as a racehorse, but he broke down without racing again. Over the next 18 months, Cummings made several attempts to get Saintly back to the track, but without success, and he was retired in July 1998. Saintly now resides at Living Legends
, the international home of rest for champion horses (open to the public) in Greenvale
, Melbourne, Australia.
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 was named Australia's champion racehorse
Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year
The Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year is awarded to the Thoroughbred horse who is voted to be the champion horse within an Australian racing season. This award is open to all racehorses racing within Australia, regardless of age and sex, and includes overseas performances.This award...
in 1997. A giant chestnut gelding by Sky Chase out of All Grace (by Sir Tristram), he was bred by his trainer, Bart Cummings
Bart Cummings
James Bartholomew 'Bart' Cummings, AM is one of the most successful Australian racehorse trainers. He is known as the Cups King, referring to the Melbourne Cup, as the he has won the 'race that stops a nation' a record 12 times....
, who owned him in partnership with a Malaysian businessman, Dato Tan Chin Nam
Dato Tan Chin Nam
Dato' Tan Chin Nam is an entrepreneur and developer in Malaysia and an owner of Australian-based Thoroughbred racehorses. His family is the majority shareholder of IGB Corporation Berhad....
.
Saintly gained the moniker 'The horse from heaven' due to his name and his partnership with jockey Darren Beadman, who at the time was a proclaimed born-again Christian. Saintly broke his maiden as a two-year-old, on 19 April 1995, and returned in the latter part of the spring, at three, where he won three races, including the Listed Carbine Club Stakes at Flemington. He opened the new year by defeating the well-performed Juggler in the Expressway Stakes
Expressway Stakes
The Expressway Stakes is a Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred open horse race for three-year-olds and over at Weight for Age run over a distance of 1200 metres at Rosehill Racecourse, Sydney in February...
, and won the Australian Cup
Australian Cup
The Australian Cup is a Group 1 Weight for Age race for Thoroughbred racehorses run over 2000 metres, at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in March...
two starts later. He was then placed behind Octagonal in the Rosehill Guineas
Rosehill Guineas
The Rosehill Guineas is an Australian Thoroughbred horse race run annually in March at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney. A race for three-year-olds at set weights, it is contested on turf over a distance of 2000 metres .-Distance:...
, the Mercedes Classic, and the Australian Derby, and finished in front of Nothin' Leica Dane and Filante, in what was considered a vintage crop of three-year-olds.
At four, Saintly was runner-up to Filante in the Warwick
Warwick Stakes
The Warwick Stakes is a Group 2 Australian thoroughbred horse race at Weight for Age that was traditionally run over a distance of 1400 metres at Warwick Farm Racecourse, Sydney in August...
and the Chelmsford Stakes
Chelmsford Stakes
The Chelmsford Stakes is an Australian Group 2 Thoroughbred horserace run over 1600 metres at Weight for Age at Randwick Racecourse Sydney in September...
, won the Hill Stakes
Hill Stakes
The Hill Stakes is a STC Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race at run at Weight for Age over a distance of 1900 metres at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, Sydney in September.-Past winners:*2011 - Trusting *2010 - Descarado *2009 - Miss Marielle...
at his third run back, and was surprisingly defeated by Adventurous, Hula Flight, and Nothin' Leica Dane in the Craven Plate and The Metropolitan. In Melbourne, however, he found his best form. He charged home to beat Filante in the Cox Plate
Cox Plate
The W.S. Cox Plate is an Australian Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne every October by the Moonee Valley Racing Club to honour W.S. Cox, the club's founder. For three-year-olds and over, the race is considered to be the Weight for Age championship of Australasia...
and backed up 10 days later for an easy win in the Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
. He was just the fourth horse to complete the double in the same year, following Nightmarch
Nightmarch
Nightmarch, foaled in 1925 was an outstanding New Zealand bred Thoroughbred racehorse known as The Kiwi. He won the New Zealand Derby and Dunedin Cup as a three-year-old before going to Australia where he became the first horse to win both the Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate in the same year, as well...
(1929), Phar Lap
Phar Lap
Phar Lap was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse whose achievements captured the public's imagination during the early years of the Great Depression. Foaled in New Zealand, he was trained and raced in Australia. Phar Lap dominated Australian racing during a distinguished career, winning a Melbourne...
(1930), and Rising Fast (1954), and preceding Makybe Diva
Makybe Diva
Makybe Diva is a British-bred, Australian-trained Thoroughbred who became the first racehorse to win the famed Melbourne Cup on three occasions: 2003, 2004, and 2005. In 2005, she also won the Cox Plate. Makybe Diva is the highest stakes-earner in Australasian horse racing history, with winnings...
(2005).
After missing the Japan Cup
Japan Cup
The is the most prestigious horse race run in Japan. It is contested at the end of November at Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu, Tokyo at a distance of 2400 meters over the grass. With a purse of ¥476 million , the Japan Cup is one of the richest races in the world.The Japan Cup is an invitational event...
through illness, Saintly returned in the Orr Stakes
C F Orr Stakes
The C F Orr Stakes is a Group 1 Australian thoroughbred horse race at Weight for Age, run over a distance of 1400 metres at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne in February. Prizemoney in 2010 is A$400,000...
, and came from well back on the home turn to defeat Cut Up Rough. Bart Cummings declared Saintly hadn't yet reached his peak as a racehorse, but he broke down without racing again. Over the next 18 months, Cummings made several attempts to get Saintly back to the track, but without success, and he was retired in July 1998. Saintly now resides at Living Legends
Living Legends horse retirement home
Living Legends is an international home of rest for champion horses located on Oaklands Road at Woodlands Historic Park in Greenvale near Melbourne, Australia...
, the international home of rest for champion horses (open to the public) in Greenvale
Greenvale, Victoria
Greenvale is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 20 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Hume...
, Melbourne, Australia.
Race record
| Result | Date | Race!!Venue!!Group!!Distance!!Weight (kg)!!Jockey!!Winner/2nd | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6th | 13 Mar 1995 | Yootha Hcp | Canterbury Canterbury Park Racecourse Canterbury Park Racecourse is a racecourse for horse racing in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is located 11 km from the Sydney Central Business District, in the suburb of Canterbury, adjacent to Canterbury railway station.- Races :... |
NA | 1200 m | 54 | J. Sheehan | 1st - Reload |
| Won | 19 Apr 1995 | Parry-Oakden Hcp | Randwick Randwick Racecourse Royal Randwick Racecourse is a racecourse for horseracing in the Eastern Suburbs in Sydney, New South Wales. Randwick Racecourse, is operated by the Australian Jockey Club and known to many Sydney racegoers as headquarters... |
NA | 1200 m | 52 | L. Cropp | 2nd - Silver Sheik |
| 3rd | 13 May 1995 | 2yo Hcp Restricted | Rosehill | NA | 1500 m | 54 | J. Sheehan | 1st - Renaissance Prince |
| 4th | 3 Jun 1995 | Hyundai Hcp | Rosehill | NA | 1300 m | 53 | L. Beasley | 1st - Quick Flick |
| Result | Date | Race!!Venue!!Group!!Distance!!Weight (kg)!!Jockey!!Winner/2nd | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | 23 Sep 1995 | No Age Restriction Hcp | Newcastle | NA | 1200 m | 57 | D. McLellan | 2nd - Blue Valley |
| 2nd | 7 Oct 1995 | 3yo Hcp Restricted | Warwick Farm Warwick Farm Racecourse Warwick Farm Racecourse is a racecourse at Warwick Farm a south-west suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is used as a racecourse for Thoroughbred horse racing.- Races :... |
NA | 1200 m | 55.5 | J. Marshall | 1st - Wavertree |
| Won | 21 Oct 1995 | 3yo Hcp Restricted | Randwick Randwick Racecourse Royal Randwick Racecourse is a racecourse for horseracing in the Eastern Suburbs in Sydney, New South Wales. Randwick Racecourse, is operated by the Australian Jockey Club and known to many Sydney racegoers as headquarters... |
NA | 1400 m | 55.5 | J. Marshall | 2nd - Kidlat |
| Won | 4 Nov 1995 | Carbine Club Stakes | Flemington Flemington Racecourse Flemington Racecourse is a major horse racing venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is most notable for hosting the Melbourne Cup, which is Australia's richest horse race. The racecourse is situated on low alluvial flats, next to the Maribyrnong River... |
LR | 1600 m | 53 | D. Beadman | 2nd - Brackenbury |
| 2nd | 18 Nov 1995 | Sandown Guineas Sandown Guineas The Sandown Guineas is a Melbourne Racing Club Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for three year olds at set weights run over a distance of 1600 metres at Sandown Racecourse, Melbourne in November... |
Sandown Sandown Racecourse Sandown Racecourse is one of the four horse racing venues located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Built for the Victoria Amateur Turf Club, it is the only metropolitan racecourse built in the 20th century and was opened before a crowd of 52,000, in June 1965.Sandown Racecourse is situated 25... |
G2 | 1600 m | 55.5 | D. Beadman | 1st - Peep On The Sly |
| Won | 10 Feb 1996 | Expressway Stakes Expressway Stakes The Expressway Stakes is a Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred open horse race for three-year-olds and over at Weight for Age run over a distance of 1200 metres at Rosehill Racecourse, Sydney in February... |
Rosehill | G2 | 1200 m | 53.5 | L. Cassidy | 2nd - Juggler |
| 2nd | 24 Feb 1996 | Apollo Stakes Apollo Stakes The Apollo Stakes is a Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race at Weight for Age run over a distance of 1400 metres at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, Sydney in February... |
Warwick Farm Warwick Farm Racecourse Warwick Farm Racecourse is a racecourse at Warwick Farm a south-west suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is used as a racecourse for Thoroughbred horse racing.- Races :... |
G2 | 1400 m | 53 | J. Powell | 1st - Juggler |
| Won | 11 Mar 1996 | Australian Cup Australian Cup The Australian Cup is a Group 1 Weight for Age race for Thoroughbred racehorses run over 2000 metres, at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in March... |
Flemington Flemington Racecourse Flemington Racecourse is a major horse racing venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is most notable for hosting the Melbourne Cup, which is Australia's richest horse race. The racecourse is situated on low alluvial flats, next to the Maribyrnong River... |
G1 | 2000 m | 52.5 | D. Beadman | 2nd - Vialli |
| 2nd | 23 Mar 1996 | Rosehill Guineas Rosehill Guineas The Rosehill Guineas is an Australian Thoroughbred horse race run annually in March at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney. A race for three-year-olds at set weights, it is contested on turf over a distance of 2000 metres .-Distance:... |
Rosehill | G1 | 2000 m | 55.5 | P. Payne | 1st - Octagonal Octagonal Octagonal is a retired champion New Zealand-bred, Australian raced Thoroughbred racehorse, also known as 'The Big O' or 'Occy'. He was by the champion sire Zabeel, out of the champion broodmare Eight Carat, who also produced Group One winners Mouawad, Kaapstad, Diamond Lover and Marquise.Trained... |
| 3rd | 30 Mar 1996 | Mercedes Classic | Rosehill | G1 | 2400 m | 52 | P. Payne | 1st - Octagonal Octagonal Octagonal is a retired champion New Zealand-bred, Australian raced Thoroughbred racehorse, also known as 'The Big O' or 'Occy'. He was by the champion sire Zabeel, out of the champion broodmare Eight Carat, who also produced Group One winners Mouawad, Kaapstad, Diamond Lover and Marquise.Trained... |
| 2nd | 6 Apr 1996 | Australian Derby AJC Derby The Australian Derby also known as AJC Derby, is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run by the Australian Jockey Club at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia. Open to three year olds, the race is held annually in the latter part of March or early April... |
Randwick Randwick Racecourse Royal Randwick Racecourse is a racecourse for horseracing in the Eastern Suburbs in Sydney, New South Wales. Randwick Racecourse, is operated by the Australian Jockey Club and known to many Sydney racegoers as headquarters... |
G1 | 2400 m | 55.5 | L. Cassidy | 1st - Octagonal Octagonal Octagonal is a retired champion New Zealand-bred, Australian raced Thoroughbred racehorse, also known as 'The Big O' or 'Occy'. He was by the champion sire Zabeel, out of the champion broodmare Eight Carat, who also produced Group One winners Mouawad, Kaapstad, Diamond Lover and Marquise.Trained... |
| Result | Date | Race!!Venue!!Group!!Distance!!Weight (kg)!!Jockey!!Winner/2nd | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd | 25 Aug 1996 | Warwick Stakes Warwick Stakes The Warwick Stakes is a Group 2 Australian thoroughbred horse race at Weight for Age that was traditionally run over a distance of 1400 metres at Warwick Farm Racecourse, Sydney in August... |
Warwick Farm Warwick Farm Racecourse Warwick Farm Racecourse is a racecourse at Warwick Farm a south-west suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is used as a racecourse for Thoroughbred horse racing.- Races :... |
G2 | 1400 m | 57 | D. Beadman | 1st - Filante |
| 2nd | 7 Sep 1996 | Chelmsford Stakes Chelmsford Stakes The Chelmsford Stakes is an Australian Group 2 Thoroughbred horserace run over 1600 metres at Weight for Age at Randwick Racecourse Sydney in September... |
Randwick Randwick Racecourse Royal Randwick Racecourse is a racecourse for horseracing in the Eastern Suburbs in Sydney, New South Wales. Randwick Racecourse, is operated by the Australian Jockey Club and known to many Sydney racegoers as headquarters... |
G2 | 1600 m | 57 | D. Beadman | 1st - Filante |
| Won | 21 Sep 1996 | Hill Stakes Hill Stakes The Hill Stakes is a STC Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race at run at Weight for Age over a distance of 1900 metres at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, Sydney in September.-Past winners:*2011 - Trusting *2010 - Descarado *2009 - Miss Marielle... |
Rosehill | G2 | 1900 m | 57 | D. Beadman | 2nd - Nothin' Leica Dane |
| 2nd | 5 Oct 1996 | Craven Plate Craven Plate The Craven Plate is an AJC Group 3 Australian Thoroughbred horse race run over 2,000 metres, under Weight for Age conditions for horses aged three-year-old and upwards, at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney in October. Total prize money for the race is A$125,000.... |
Randwick Randwick Racecourse Royal Randwick Racecourse is a racecourse for horseracing in the Eastern Suburbs in Sydney, New South Wales. Randwick Racecourse, is operated by the Australian Jockey Club and known to many Sydney racegoers as headquarters... |
G3 | 2000 m | 57 | D. Beadman | 1st - Adventurous |
| 3rd | 7 Oct 1996 | Metropolitan Handicap | Randwick Randwick Racecourse Royal Randwick Racecourse is a racecourse for horseracing in the Eastern Suburbs in Sydney, New South Wales. Randwick Racecourse, is operated by the Australian Jockey Club and known to many Sydney racegoers as headquarters... |
G1 | 2600 m | 54.5 | D. Beadman | 1st - Hula Flight |
| Won | 26 Oct 1996 | Cox Plate Cox Plate The W.S. Cox Plate is an Australian Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne every October by the Moonee Valley Racing Club to honour W.S. Cox, the club's founder. For three-year-olds and over, the race is considered to be the Weight for Age championship of Australasia... |
Moonee Valley Moonee Valley Racecourse Moonee Valley Racecourse is a horse-racing track in Melbourne, Australia which hosts races for Thoroughbreds. Located six kilometers from the Melbourne CBD, it is the home of the Moonee Valley Racing Club... |
G1 | 2040 m | 57 | D. Beadman | 2nd - Filante |
| Won | 5 Nov 1996 | Melbourne Cup Melbourne Cup The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races... |
Flemington Flemington Racecourse Flemington Racecourse is a major horse racing venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is most notable for hosting the Melbourne Cup, which is Australia's richest horse race. The racecourse is situated on low alluvial flats, next to the Maribyrnong River... |
G1 | 3200 m | 55.5 | D. Beadman | 2nd - Count Chivas |
| Won | 8 Feb 1997 | C F Orr Stakes C F Orr Stakes The C F Orr Stakes is a Group 1 Australian thoroughbred horse race at Weight for Age, run over a distance of 1400 metres at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne in February. Prizemoney in 2010 is A$400,000... |
Caulfield Caulfield Racecourse Caulfield Racecourse is one of Melbourne, Australia's best-known horse-racing tracks. Commonly known as "The Heath" by local racegoers, it is located eight kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, on the boundary of Caulfield and Caulfield East in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs... |
G1 | 1400 m | 57 | D. Beadman | 2nd - Cut Up Rough |