Sariska (horse)
Encyclopedia
Sariska is a Thoroughbred
filly
racehorse
. Bred and raced by Lady Bamford, she was named for the Sariska Tiger Reserve
in the Alwar district
of the Indian state of Rajasthan
.
Trained by Michael Bell, Sariska made her racing debut on November 1, 2008, winning a maiden race for filles at Newmarket Racecourse. She did not return to the track until April 18, 2009 when she ran fourth to winner Lahaleeb in the Fred Darling Stakes
at Newbury Racecourse
. In her next start, Sariska won the Musidora Stakes
at York Racecourse
.Made the betting favorite for the Epsom Oaks
, under jockey Jamie Spencer
, who had ridden her in all of her previous starts, Sariska did not disappoint and outfought Midday down the stretch to win the Classic by a small head.
She followed that up with another victory in the Irish Oaks
, where she once again confirmed her superiority over Midday, as Sariska cruised to a comfortable victory, never coming off the bridle. So easy was her win that Jamie Spencer gave a cheeky wave to Fran Berry on second placed Roses for the Lady as he cruised past her. Her next start was her first against older horses in the Yorkshire Oaks where she went off a short priced favourite only to be out battled by the four-year-old Dar Re Mi, who prevailed by a short head. She then finished an excellent third behind Twice Over in her first race against the colts in the Champion Stakes at Newmarket.
Sariska trained on as a four-year old and started her campaign with an easy victory over old rival Midday in the Group Two Middleton Stakes at York. She was then a highly creditable second in Epsom's group one Coronation Cup, behind Fame and Glory. But then came massive disappointment for all her fans in one of the most hyped up races of the season, the Yorkshire Oaks. Here Sariska was to face Midday and the younger horse, that season's dual Oaks winner, Snow Fairy. However Sariska refused to budge from the stalls as the field raced away from her with Midday, a horse she'd beaten three times, winning convincingly. This was the first time Sariska had shown any negative temperament in public, although she had nearly killed her trainer Michael Bell a month previously when kicking him with both hooves in the back, narrowly missing his kidney's and sending him flying across the stable.
With signs that she had had enough of racing connections decided to give her one last chance in the Prix Vermeille at Longchamp but she again refused to budge from the stalls in a race where Midday again took the honours. Deciding that enough was enough Sariska was then retired.
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...
filly
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. Bred and raced by Lady Bamford, she was named for the Sariska Tiger Reserve
Sariska Tiger Reserve
The Sariska Tiger Reserve is a national park in India located in the Alwar district of the state of Rajasthan. The topography of Sariska supports scrub-thorn arid forests, dry deciduous forests, rocks and grasses. This area was a hunting preserve of the erstwhile Alwar state and it was declared a...
in the Alwar district
Alwar District
Alwar District is a district in Rajasthan, a state in northern India, with capital in the city of Alwar.The district is bounded on the north by Haryana state, and on the east by Bharatpur, on the south by Dausa, and on the west by Jaipur districts....
of the Indian state of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
.
Trained by Michael Bell, Sariska made her racing debut on November 1, 2008, winning a maiden race for filles at Newmarket Racecourse. She did not return to the track until April 18, 2009 when she ran fourth to winner Lahaleeb in the Fred Darling Stakes
Fred Darling Stakes
The Fred Darling Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Newbury over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in April....
at Newbury Racecourse
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 her next start, Sariska won the Musidora Stakes
Musidora Stakes
The Musidora Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. 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 May....
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...
.Made the betting favorite for the Epsom Oaks
Epsom Oaks
The Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early June....
, under jockey Jamie Spencer
Jamie 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...
, who had ridden her in all of her previous starts, Sariska did not disappoint and outfought Midday down the stretch to win the Classic by a small head.
She followed that up with another victory in the Irish Oaks
Irish Oaks
The Irish Oaks is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July....
, where she once again confirmed her superiority over Midday, as Sariska cruised to a comfortable victory, never coming off the bridle. So easy was her win that Jamie Spencer gave a cheeky wave to Fran Berry on second placed Roses for the Lady as he cruised past her. Her next start was her first against older horses in the Yorkshire Oaks where she went off a short priced favourite only to be out battled by the four-year-old Dar Re Mi, who prevailed by a short head. She then finished an excellent third behind Twice Over in her first race against the colts in the Champion Stakes at Newmarket.
Sariska trained on as a four-year old and started her campaign with an easy victory over old rival Midday in the Group Two Middleton Stakes at York. She was then a highly creditable second in Epsom's group one Coronation Cup, behind Fame and Glory. But then came massive disappointment for all her fans in one of the most hyped up races of the season, the Yorkshire Oaks. Here Sariska was to face Midday and the younger horse, that season's dual Oaks winner, Snow Fairy. However Sariska refused to budge from the stalls as the field raced away from her with Midday, a horse she'd beaten three times, winning convincingly. This was the first time Sariska had shown any negative temperament in public, although she had nearly killed her trainer Michael Bell a month previously when kicking him with both hooves in the back, narrowly missing his kidney's and sending him flying across the stable.
With signs that she had had enough of racing connections decided to give her one last chance in the Prix Vermeille at Longchamp but she again refused to budge from the stalls in a race where Midday again took the honours. Deciding that enough was enough Sariska was then retired.